It was another winning week for the Utica Comets. The AHL affiliate of the New Jersey Devils is slowly trying to march its way back to playoff-contention relevancy. Aided by a big game by Simon Nemec, and their captain, Ryan Schmelzer, finding a goal-scoring touch, the Comets tallied a second straight two-win week.
For last week’s review, please click here.
Weekly Results
Comets 7, Wolf Pack 3; Jan. 15
The Comets started the week off with a seven-goal explosion against the New York Rangers’ AHL affiliate. The Comets scored the game’s first three goals: Max Willman (2), Nolan Foote (9), and Chase Stillman (3). After Stillman’s tally early in period two, the Wolf Pack answered back with three-straight goals to tie the game up.
To end the second period, Simon Nemec got his fourth of the season. With his second point, he gave the Comets a 4-3 lead entering the second intermission. In period three, it was all Comets and, more specifically, all Simon Nemec. Nemec factored in to each of Utica’s three third period goals. He scored the first one, then assisted on the next two by Willman (3) and Xavier Parent (4). When the final horn sounded, Utica led 7-3.
Despite the gaudy score, the Comets only had 29 shots in the game. Isaac Poulter got the win for Utica, stopping 25-of-28. As mentioned, Nemec had a huge game, posting five points (two goals, three assists). Shane Bowers (two assists), Max Willman (two goals), Nolan Foote (one goal, one assist), and Xavier Parent (one goal, one assist) all had two-point nights.
Rockets 3, Comets 2; Jan. 17
In the first game of a quick back-to-back set with the Laval Rocket, the Comets came out on the wrong end. Utica actually got out to a great start, as the captain, Ryan Schmezler, scored two power play goals to give Utica a 2-0 lead just five minutes into period two. Nemec, who was coming off the five-point game, had assists on both of Schmezler’s goals.
Unfortunately, that was all the scoring Utica would do. Laval scored one at the end of period two and two more in the third period. The game-winning goal, by Owen Beck, came with five minutes left in the game.
Laval narrowly outshot the Comets 28 to 25. Nico Daws got the start and suffered the loss, making 25 saves. Despite going 2-for-2 on the power play, Utica lost 3-2.
Comets 3, Laval 1; Jan. 18
The Comets responded in a strong way the day after their Friday loss in Laval. Schmelzer continued his new-found rapid goal-scoring pace, getting the Comets on the board just a minute into the game. Utica also scored in the second and third periods, to go up 3-0. Nathan Légaré (4) got the second period tally while Xavier Parent (5) scored in the third period. Parent also assisted on Légaré’s tally, giving him another two-point night.
Laval did strike very late, with 15 seconds left in the game on the power play. However, outside that, Isaac Poulter kept the Rocket off the board, stopping 24-of-25. There were 10 total power play chances in the game; Comets went 0-for-4 and Laval went 1-for-6.
Statistic Update
It was a massive week for Simon Nemec, who was named to the AHL All-Star Classic as Seasmus Casey, who was previously named, is still working his way back from injury. Nemec had seven points over the last week (three games); he is now at 18 in 25 games on the season. Specifically, he has 14 points (five goals, nine assists) over his last 11 games.
After having only two goals through 23 games, Ryan Schmezler now has five in his last eight games. This includes three in his last two games. Schmezler, Utica’s captain, had a breakout 2023-24 campaign, where he posted 52 points in 72 games, 20 points higher than his previous career-high. He provides a very nice veteran presence, as a 31-year-old, to the Comets team.
Xavier Parent also had a nice week. Over his last three games has he posted four points. He also has six points over his last six games. In his final year in the QMJHL, he had 106 points in 65 games, then a 51-point season in 50 ECHL games in 2022-23. His first full season with Utica last year was fine (45 points in 71 games). The 23-year-old is around the same scoring pace this season.
Standings Update
The Comets are enduring a nice 4-2 run over their last two weeks. This little spurt has Utica up to 26 points and a 11-19-2-2 record. To make the playoffs, the Comets would need to move from last (seventh) in the North Division to fifth by season’s end. Right now, the Syracuse Crunch occupy fifth; they have 43 points, but four more games played than the Comets.
Upcoming Schedule
The Comets have a very busy week ahead of them. On Monday, they are set to travel to Syracuse, the team they are chasing in the standings. Then, they have two-straight home games on Wednesday and Friday against the Islanders and Penguins, before ending the week on Saturday at Wilkes-Barre Scranton in the second game of a back-to-back set. The Bridgeport Islanders are the worst team in the AHL and the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins are fourth in a loaded Atlantic Division.