COMETS AIM TO GROUND ROCKET
Mar 22, 2019UTICA COMETS (30-28-6-2) vs. LAVAL ROCKET (27-27-6-5)
Adirondack Bank Center, 7 p.m.
Watch Live: AHLTV | Listen Live: 94.9 K-ROCK
Follow and Interact Live: Twitter | Hashtag: #LAVvsUTI
Today’s Game: The Utica Comets take on the Laval Rocket for the final time this season. Puck drop is at 7 p.m.
Last Game: The Utica Comets earned a late equalizer from Brendan Woods, but an even later surge from the Belleville Senators was too much to overcome during a 2-1 loss on Wednesday night at CAA Arena. Michael Leighton stopped 27 of 29 shots in the loss.
Head-to-Head: This is the eighth and final meeting between the Comets and Rocket this year. Utica leads the season series 4-2-1-0, but Laval won the most recent contest 5-3 back on March 9. The Comets have outscored the Rocket 22-19 through seven games.
Scouting the Rocket: Laval comes in with a record of 27-27-6-5 and sits in seventh place in the North Division. They most recently beat the Providence Bruins 3-2 in a shootout Wednesday night. Alex Belzile leads the way offensively with 48 points, followed by Jake Evans with 41 points. Michael McNiven leads all active goaltenders with a record of 9-9-3, a 2.48 goals-against average, and a .902 save percentage.
Feelin’ Blu: Dylan Blujus returned to the lineup Wednesday night for the first time in over a month and a half. Blujus looked good in his return and even registered an assist on Brendan Woods’ goal. The defenseman has seven points (1-6-7) in 33 games this season.
No Place Like Home: Tanner Kero has been lighting it up on home ice over the past month. Kero is riding a six-game home point streak, picking up seven points (4-3-7). The forward is the second leading scorer on the team with 51 points (22-29-51) in 60 games this year.
Just Killin’ It: The Comets’ penalty kill has been a bright spot for team over the past few games. Utica has only allowed two power play goals in their last four games and has killed off 20 of their last 22 penalties. Overall, the Comets penalty kill ranks 22nd in the AHL at 80.6%.
Out Of The Woods: Keep an eye out for Brendan Woods tonight. Woods notched his fifth goal of the season last night and recorded a goal and an assist last time out against Laval. Additionally, the forward has had at least three shots on goal in four of his last eight games. Woods has 12 points (5-7-12) in 43 games this year.
Next Game: The Comets go right back at it tomorrow night against the Syracuse Crunch. Puck drop at the War Memorial Arena is at 7 p.m. The game can be heard on 94.9 KROCK and viewed on AHL TV.