The Utica Comets (AHL) and their playoff hopes are hanging on by a thread. After a 1-1-1 week, Utica is still technically alive for a playoff berth with three games to go. The Comets trail the Rochester Americans by six points in the standings. The only way the Comets would be able to make the playoff is if they win all three of their remaining games and the Americans lose all three of theirs. Utica would hold a hypothetically tiebreaker as the Comets has more regulation wins.
The road did get tougher this past week for Utica as several key contributors were either called up or injured. Forwards Brian Halonen and Marc McLaughlin have been with New Jersey since April 4 (Halonen was recently put on waivers) while defenseman Topias Vilén and goaltender Nico Daws joined them this past weekend. Lastly, forward Angus Crookshank suffered an apparent injury and missed Saturday’s game.
On the flip side of that, as mentioned, it was announced on Monday Halonen was placed on waivers with the intention of him rejoining Utica if he passes through. Forward Lenni Hämeenaho was also sent down. Lastly, Utica also signed a pair of goaltenders to try-out contracts.
These goalies are Veeti Louhivaara (ATO) and Henry Welsch (PTO). Louhivaara, 20 years old, was a fifth-round pick in 2024. He is committed to play college hockey for Connecticut next season and spent the majority of this year in the USLH posting a 0.905 save percentage across 22 games with the Chicago Steel. Welsch is an undrafted free agent out of UMass-Lowell. The 25-year-old has limited ECHL action.
Last week’s recap can be found here.
Weekly Results
Toronto 4, Utica 3 (OT); Apr. 6
In a rare 10:45 am ET start, the home Toronto Marlies got the best of Utica in overtime. Toronto jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first period, but Utica fought back and ultimately fell 4-3.
After falling behind 2-0, Nathan Légaré made it a 2-1 game with his 12th of the season. Toronto extended the lead back out to two goals before Angus Crookshank got his 20th of the season to make it a 3-2 game after two periods. Crookshank scored again in the third to tie things at three. The score remained tied util overtime when Toronto ended just 26 seconds into the extra frame.
Utica was outshot in the game 23-16. Nico Daws made his last start before his weekend call-up stopping 19-of-23 in the losing effort. The Utica power play extended its scoreless streak by going 0-for-3.
Utica 6, Toronto 3; April. 10
Utica got revenge on Toronto Friday night as they noticed a three-goal victory over their division rival. The theme of the game was defensemen scoring goals as four of the Comets’ six tallies were scored by defensemen.
Austin Strand got the scoring started for Utica in the first. Toronto tied the game early in the second, but the Comets scored twice more to end the second period. Mikaël Diotte scored his first professional goal followed by Matyas Melovsky’s eight of the season, on the power play, to end the frame.
The third period was a busy one as five goals were scored, three of which by the Comets. Nathan Légaré (shorthanded), Calen Addison, and Austin Strand (empty net) all scored. When it was all said and done, Utica won the contest 6-3.
Five different Comets had a multiple point game: Addison, Strand, Légaré, Melovsky, and Xavier Parent. They outshot the Marlies 26-22 and finally scored a power play goal, snapping an extremely long scoreless drought with the man advantage. Jakub Málek got the win, stopping 19-of-22.
Syracuse 5, Utica 1; Apr. 11
In the final game of the week, Utica suffered a 5-1 loss to the playoff-bound Syracuse Crunch. Utica’s lone goal came 4:53 into the contest via Xavier Parent’s 20th of the season. Utica was held scoreless after that.
Jakub Málek got the start on back-to-back dates and struggled, stopping 29-of-34. Utica was outshot 34-28 in the game and went 0-for-4 on the power play.
Statistics Update
The Utica Comets saw two skaters break the 20-goal plateau this past week. Both Angus Crookshank and Xavier Parent scored their 20th goals of the season. Crookshank added his 21st as well. The only other Comet with a fighting chance at 20 is Brian Halonen. However, he will need to clear waivers first before getting three more cracks at it this upcoming week.
Meanwhile, defenseman Calen Addison continued his extremely hot offensive ending to the season. He posted three points this week including a two-point outing on Saturday. He now has eight points over his last nine games. This included a five-game point streak at the end of March. Addison, 26, leads Comets defensemen in points with 29 in 62 games.
Standings Update
The Utica Comets sit at 27-31-6-5 on the season. The 65 points that record is good for trails Rochester by six for the fifth and final playoff spot in the North Division. Each team has three games remaining. Given Utica’s 23 regulation wins, compared to Rochester’s 22, the Comets do hold the tiebreaker.
Bottom line, the Comets only chance at making the playoffs is winning each of their three remaining games and getting to the 71-point mark Rochester is at. Any single point gained by Rochester over their last three games would eliminate Utica no matter what they do.
Upcoming Schedule
Utica ends their regular season with one more three-game set. They play the current last place team in the North Division, Belleville, on Wednesday on the road. Then, they end the weekend with a back-to-back Friday and Saturday against the Kilpatrick Trophy-winning Providence Bruins. Providence has amassed an amazing 110 points thus far this season.
Meanwhile, Rochester ends their season with a three games in three days Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. They play at home against the Cleveland Monsters on Friday then on the road against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Saturday and in Hershey against the Bears on Sunday. Cleveland and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton have clinched while Hershey is still battling for their playoff lives.