COMETS HOST NORTH DIVISION LEADING AMERKS
Feb 9, 2019UTICA COMETS (25-19-3-2) vs. ROCHESTER AMERICANS (29-13-3-2)
Adirondack Bank Center, 7 p.m.
Watch Live: AHLTV | Listen Live: 94.9 K-ROCK
Follow and Interact Live: Twitter | Hashtag: #ROCvsUTI
Tonight’s Game: The Utica Comets take on the Rochester Americans. Puck drop is at 7 p.m.
Last Game: The Comets overcame a 2-0 deficit and ripped off five unanswered goals in a 5-2 win over the Lehigh Valley Phantoms Friday night at the Adirondack Bank Center. Carter Bancks, Ashton Sautner, Reid Boucher, Tom Pyatt, and Brendan Gaunce found the net for Utica. Michael Leighton made 25 saves to earn his second straight win.
Head-to-Head: This is the seventh meeting between the North Division rivals this season. Rochester leads the season series 4-2-0-0 and won the most recent matchup 3-2 in a shootout back on January 25. The Comets have been outscored 25-14 through six games this year.
Scouting the Americans: Rochester comes in with a record of 29-13-3-1 and sit in first place in the North Division. They most recently lost to Springfield 7-1 last night. Victor Olofsson leads the offense with 42 points, followed by Zach Redmond with 39 points. Scott Wedgewood is the leading netminder with a record of 17-7-2, a 2.79 goals-against average, and .909 save percentage.
Closing In: Reid Boucher is close to breaking his own record. Boucher is five goals away from tying the Comets record for goals in a single season (25), a record he set last season. Boucher leads the Comets with 43 points and 20 goals in 37 games this season.
Bounce Back: Despite dropping their first two contests against Rochester, the Comets have responded by earning points in two straight games and three of their last four overall against the Amerks. Each team has scored 13 goals apiece during those four games.
Breakthrough: Jonathan Dahlen ended a four game pointless drought with authority. Dahlen has picked up points in two straight games, collecting a goal and an assist. He also has points in four of his last six home games. The rookie forward has 24 points (12-12-24) in 45 games this year.
Red Hot: Tanner Kero’s monster season continues. Kero has three points in his last two games and 14 points in his last nine games. He has also achieved career highs in points (42) and assists (25) this season. He is also three goals shy of tying his career high (20). Kero is second on the team in scoring with (17-25-42) in 47 games this season.
Next Game: The Comets return to the ice tomorrow afternoon against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Puck drop at Webster Bank Arena is at 3 p.m. The game can be heard on 94.9 KROCK and viewed on AHL TV.