COMETS HEAD TO PROVIDENCE FOR FRIDAY MATINEE

Apr 15, 2021

This Afternoon's Game: Today's matchup between the Utica Comets and the Providence Bruins marks the first meeting of the season. The game scheduled for the Adirondack Bank Center on April 3 was postponed due to Covid protocol. The Providence Bruins as the top affiliate of the Boston Bruins (NHL) and have a record of 13-4-1 playing in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference .Utica, in the North Division, currently holds a two game winning streak; accumulating 17 points in 13 games played this season. 

Last Game: The Comets won their second straight game against the Syracuse Crunch at the Adirondack Bank Center on Wednesday night. After going down 1-0 to the Crunch, the Comets received goals from Nolan Stevens, Lukas Jasek and Jett Woo. Comets netminder Evan Fitzpatrick, playing in his first game as a Comet, won his first start of the season after making 16 saves on 18 shots. The Comets scored two powerplay goals on four chances while holding the Crunch scoreless on their two opportunities with the man-advantage. 

Scouting the Bruins: Providence is led in scoring by third year pro Cameron Hughes. The left winger has totaled four goals and 12 assists for 16 points in 18 games played. Second year pro Jakub Lauko trains Hughes by one point with 15 on the season with five goals and ten assists. Brady Lyle is the team's leading scoring defenseman scoring five goals and five assists for 10 points in 18 games this season. The Bruins have used four goalies this season. Currently, Jeremy Swayman is up with Boston but led the team with nine games played. 

Turning the Jets: Utica rookie defenseman Jett Woo scored his first goal of the season on Wednesday night against the Crunch. The third period tally proved to be the game winner in a 3-2 victory for his squad. The goal scored at 8:50 of the final period was also Woo's first point of the year. Normally paired with Jack Rathbone, who has a three game point streak, Woo logs plenty of ice time for Trent Cull's defense and has appeared in every game this season in his rookie campaign. Woo also leads the team in +/- with a +7 in 13 games played. 

Evan Fitzpatrick, Win #1: Despite not playing a game since January of last season, Evan Fitzpatrick stood tall in the crease for the Comets. stopping 16 shots and helping the team to a second straight win. Fitzpatrick became the fourth goalie to start a game for Utica Comets this season. Each netminder this season has at least one victory under their belt. 

Current Point Streaks: Nolan Stevens (3 games), Jack Rathbone (3 games), Sam Anas (2 games), Sven Bärtschi (2 games), Lukas Jasek (2 games) all have point streaks for the Comets going into Friday's meeting against the Providence Bruins in Marlborough, Massachusetts at the New England Sports Center.