COMETS WRAP UP FOUR-GAME HOMESTAND AGAINST DEVILS
Feb 16, 2018UTICA COMETS (26-14-10) vs. BINGHAMTON DEVILS (13-26-9)
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: #BNGvsUTI
Tonight’s Game: The Utica Comets do battle with the Binghamton Devils. Puck drop is at 7 p.m.
Last Game: The Utica Comets fell to the Syracuse Crunch by a score of 3-2 in a shootout. Carter Verhaeghe netted the first goal two minutes into the game. Dominik Masin extended the lead to 2-0 five minutes later. David Dziurzynski brought the Comets to within one with 7:16 remaining in the second period. Adam Comrie and Cole Cassels tallied the assists. Patrick Wiercioch tied the game at two 1:19 into the third period. Tony Cameranesi and Wacey Hamilton picked up the assists. Jamie McBain netted the only goal in the seventh round of the shootout to earn the win. Demko finished with 30 saves as his record falls to 18-7-6.
Head-to-Head: This is the fifth meeting between Utica and Binghamton this season. The Comets lead the season series 3-1-0 and won the most recent contest 3-1 on January 26. The Comets are outscoring the Devils 9-6 through four games this year.
Scouting the Devils: Binghamton comes in with a record of 13-26-9 and sits in last place in the North Division. They most recently fell 5-2 to the Toronto Marlies on Sunday. Jacob MacDonald and Bracken Kearns lead the offense with 34 points apiece. Ken Appleby leads the goaltenders with a record of 5-10-2, a 3.31 goals-against average, and a .886% save percentage.
Lucky 13: Despite their loss to Syracuse Wednesday night, the Comets were able to scrape up a point to extend their streak to 13 games. The streak is a new record for the Comets, who have not lost in regulation since suffering a 3-2 loss to Syracuse on January 12. Utica is outscoring their opponents 38-27 during their point streak
Power Outage: The Comets penalty kill continues to excel this season. Utica has killed off 25 of their last 27 penalties over the past eight games. Utica’s penalty kill ranks third in the AHL at 86.1%. In addition, the Comets have not allowed a goal on the man advantage in four games against the Devils this year.
Two-Headed Monster: A big part of the Comets recent success can be attributed to Thatcher Demko and Richard Bachman. Bachman has won four straight starts and is unbeaten in regulation in eight straight starts. Demko is unbeaten in regulation in six straight starts and has won six of his last eight games. Demko is 5-0-1 with a 1.91 goals-against average and a .937% save percentage and Bachman is 6-0-2 with a 1.84 goals against average and a .939% save percentage during their respective streaks.
Battle for the North: The North Division is evolving into a three-team race for second place between the Comets, Crunch, and Americans. It is crucial to keep picking up up points as the three teams are only separated by .02 percentage points. Utica battles Rochester one more time and Syracuse three more times this season.
Next Game: The Comets return to action tomorrow night as they hit the road to take on the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Puck drop at Mohegan Sun Arena is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. The game can be heard on 94.9 KROCK and viewed on AHL Live.