The Utica Comets (AHL) saw their losing skid hit six games last week. In what may have been rock bottom, the Comets hit several posts in a 2-0 decision to Springfield, who was formerly the worst team in the league before the Comets took that title.
In other news, the team recalled forward Cam Squires. Squires had three points in eight ECHL games prior to his call-up. The 20-year old winger had 75 points in 58 QMJHL games his final junior season in 2024-25.
For last week’s review, click here.
Weekly Results
Thunderbirds 2, Comets 0; Nov. 21
On Friday, Utica battled, at the time, the only team with less points than them in the league. Springfield ended up beating the Comets in the battle of the bottom dwellers 2-0.
The game-winning goal ended up being scored 4:04 into the game’s first period. Springfield did not end up scoring against until late in the contest with Utica’s net empty. The Comets outshot Springfield 33-21. This figure did not include the almost double digit amount of posts they hit. It was one of Utica’s best games they played all season and they did not get a single point.
Nico Daws got the start for Utica again, and was out-dueled by Springfield goalie Georgi Romanov. Romanov was on a professional try-out with the Devils in preseason. Daws stopped 19-of-20 in the loss. Utica went 0-for-1 on the power play while they held Springfield to 0-for-3 on theirs.
Americans 4, Comets 3; Nov. 22
There was a lot more action on Saturday’s finale. Despite a fierce comeback, the Comets fell short against, losing for a sixth-straight time, 4-3.
The Comets had to chase the game in the first period. Rochester scored twice in a period of 30 seconds, nabbing the 2-0 lead. Late in the opening period Lenni Hämeenaho split the Americans’ lead in half, putting the game to 2-1 on the scoreboard at the end of the opening frame.
In the second period, Utica was able to tie the game up. Nathan Légaré got his second of the season after Jonathan Gruden laid a massive hit in the buildup. The excitement was short-lived however, as Rochester scored a power play goal with 28 seconds left in the period to regain the one-goal lead.
With Rochester leading 3-2, they added a tally early in the third period to return their lead to two goals. The Comets kept pushing, with loads of pressure down the stretch, but were only able to get one of the two goals needed to tie the game. Xavier Parent scored on the power play, his fourth of the season. However, that was the end of the scoring and the scoreboard read 4-3 Rochester when the final horn sounded.
Nico Daws, who has gotten a long run of play recently, stopped 26-of-30 in another loss. Utica finally snapped a long scoreless stretch on their power play, but still went 1-for-5 with the man advantage. Hämeenaho and Calen Addison were the two Comets with multi-point games.
Statistic Update
Lenni Hämeenaho is by far the Comets’ best offensive player right now. This is a welcoming development as the former second-round pick was held scoreless through his first 10 career AHL games. However, since then, he has four points in five games. This includes two in the contest on Saturday.
The Comets have really been leaning on goaltender Nico Daws. Daws has started each of Utica’s last five games. Across this time he has stopped 123-of-140 (0.879 save percentage). He had a 42-save performance on November 15, but allowed six goals on November 11 and has a sub-.900 save percentage in two other games during the stretch.
Standings Update
With the six straight losses, Utica’s record sits at 2-10-2-1. The seven points the Comets have is good for dead-last in the league. They are already nine points back of the final playoff spot in the North Division.
Upcoming Schedule
Utica has a two-game slate upcoming. They will play Wednesday, in Utica, against the Syracuse Crunch Then, ending their week on Saturday, they will once again play the Crunchb ut in Syracuse. Syracuse owns an 11-6-0-0 record which is second-best in the North Division.
ECHL Update
The Devils’ ECHL affiliate, the Adirondack Thunder, own a 6-4-1-1 record. Their 14 point rank 11th among the 15-team Eastern Conference. However, their 12 games played is tied for the fewest in the East.
Two forwards are the source for most of the Thunder’s offensive successes this season. Brannon McManus has 12 points in 12 games and Dylan Wendt has 11 points in 12 games. Meanwhile, Jeremy Hanzel lead defensemen with five points. In net, Jeremy Brodeur has been one of the best goalies in the league. He has a 0.932 save percentage in six starts.
McManus, 26 years old, has 203 career ECHL games. He has only played in the AHL seven times after being a collegiate undrafted free agent. Dylan Wendt had 12 games of AHL play last season with Utica. He had 28 points in 43 ECHL games with Adirondack last season. Lastly, Hanzel was acquired in the Erik Haula trade in the offseason.