COMETS LOOK TO SNAP THREE-GAME LOSING SKID AGAINST BELLEVILLE
Nov 17, 2017UTICA COMETS (5-7-1) vs. BELLEVILLE SENATORS (8-7-1)
Adirondack Bank Center, 7 p.m.
Watch Live: AHL Live | Listen Live: 94.9 K-ROCK, Desktop or Mobile
Follow and Interact Live: Twitter | Hashtag: #BELvsUTI
Tonight’s Game: The Utica Comets take on the Belleville Senators. Puck drops at 7 p.m.
Last Game: The Utica Comets fell to the Laval Rocket by a score of 5-4 Wednesday night at Place Bell. Daniel Carr struck less than five minutes into the game with a power play goal. Peter Holland and Michael McCarron had the assists. Holland extended the lead to 2-0 with 31 seconds remaining in the opening frame with another power play goal. Carr netted his second goal of the night at the 11:15 mark of the second period. Michael Chaput got the Comets on the board with 5:08 remaining in the middle frame when he put a loose puck behind Michael McNiven. The goal was unassisted. Antoine Waked regained Laval’s three-goal lead four minutes into the third period, firing a one-timer past Thatcher Demko. Alexis D’Aoust brought the Comets back to within two halfway through the final period when he finished a nifty passing play from Zack MacEwen. Cole Cassels also picked up an assist on the play. Jordan Boucher scored an empty net goal, but Michael Carcone and Reid Boucher struck in the last 16 seconds to bring the game to within one, but it was too little, too late. Demko stopped 20 of 24 shots and his record falls to 4-2-1.
Head-to-Head: This is the first meeting between the Comets and Senators this season. The North Division rivals will clash six times this season.
Scouting the Senators: Belleville comes in with a record of 8-7-1 and are coming off a 6-2 victory over the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Ethan Werek and Jim O’Brien lead the offense with nine points apiece. Andrew Hammond leads the goaltending tandem with a record of 5-2-1, a 2.73 goals-against average, and a .919% save percentage.
300 and Counting: With an appearance in Wednesday’s game, Philip Holm played in his 300th professional game. The Swedish defenseman is in his seventh season as a pro, beginning his career in his native Sweden.
Staying Hot: Michael Chaput kept his point streak rolling Wednesday, tallying a goal and an assist against Laval. It was Chaput’s fourth consecutive game with a point, and has collected at least one point in six of the last seven games.
Power Outage: The Comets power play continues to struggle, going 1-16 in their last three games. Overall, the man advantage remains in the top 10 of the AHL with a 20% conversion rate.
Home Cookin’: Tonight’s contest begins a three-game homestand for the Comets. The Hartford Wolf Pack come to town tomorrow night, followed by the Toronto Marlies the following Wednesday. The Comets are 1-3-1 on home ice so far this season.
Next Game: The Comets are back in action tomorrow night as they host the Hartford Wolf Pack. Puck drops at 7 p.m. at the Adirondack Bank Center. Fans are encouraged to utilize the ticket exchange website, StubHub!. The game can be heard on 94.9 KROCK and viewed on AHL Live.