COMETS SET FOR FINAL HOME GAME OF SEASON
May 12, 2021Tonight's Game: Tonight’s game against the Rochester Americans marks the first of three games in a row against the Amerks to close out the season. The last time they faced off at the Adirondack Bank Center, the Comes skated away with a 7-1 victory. After tonight's game, they will faceoff against each other Friday night in Rochester at the Blue Cross Arena at 7:05 P.M.
Last Game: The Comets were victorious in their penultimate home game of the season when they defeated the Syracuse Crunch by a 3-0 score. Nolan Stevens scored two goals while rookie forward Nikita Alexandrov registered his third goal of the season. Goaltender Joel Hofer secured his second shutout of the season making 26 saves on 26 shots. The game marked the last time the Crunch and Comets faced off against each other with the 14 game season series ending in a 7-7 record for Utica.
Scouting the Americans: The Americans are led in scoring by Brett Murray who has skated 23 games for Rochester scoring nine goals while adding 10 assists for 19 points. Right behind Murray is forward Remi Elli with 24 games played totaling nine goals and nine assists for 18 points. Third in scoring for the Americans is Michael Mersch and Oskari Laaksonen. Mersch has eight goals and nine assists for 17 points on the year while leading rookie scorer defenseman Laaksonen has 24 games played scoring 2 goals and 15 assists for 17 points. Goaltender Billy Christopoulos skated in one game against the Comets this season and took a loss on April 23rd in Rochester by a 7-5 score.
Jasek Leads the Way: With two assists on Wednesday night, forward Lukas Jasek leads the Comets in points with four goals and 19 assists for 23 points in 25 games played. The multi-point night on Wednesday at the Adirondack Bank Center was the fifth time this season Jasek ended a game with more than one point. Jasek is currently on a six game point streak scoring two goals and six assists along that time.
Alexandrov Taking Strides: St. Louis Blues draft pick, Nikita Alexandrov scored one of the team’s three goals on Wednesday night with Nolan Stevens scoring the other two. Alexandrov was one of the most formidable threats all game long against Syracuse. The goal on Wednesday was the third goal in three home games for the rookie forward was is of Russian decent but was born in Germany.
Last Home Game: Tonight is the last home game of the season and the Comets have a chance to end on a very respectable record inside the Adirondack Bank Center. In 12 games this season at home the Comets amassed a record of 10-2. Of the two losses the Comets sustained at home, the Americans are responsible for one of them and it came on April 9 with the Comets losing a 4-2 decision. Tonight’s home game also is the last time the Comets will take to the ice as the affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks. While this season, the team is the AHL affiliate of the St. Louis Blues as well, the team’s long eight-year history with the Canucks is part of the Comes history with the team’s green, white and blue colors taking to the ice for the last time