UTICA HOSTS BELEVILLE ON BRODEUR BOBBLEHEAD NIGHT

Apr 6, 2022

The Last Time Out: For the fourth and final time in the regular season, the Comets locked up against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Dropping two of the three previous games including a road game in Allentown, the Phantoms kept things rolling against Utica. The Comets had a two goal lead evaporate on three straight Phantoms goals and lost the game, 3-2. In the first period, it was the Comets that struck on the power-play and the goal was scored by rookie Brian Halonen in his second professional game. As a shot by forward Tyce Thompson was stopped, a rebound rested in front of Lehigh goalie Felix Sandstrom. Halonen drove the net with his stick on the ice and pitchforked the puck into the net at 12:06. The Comets left the period up 1-0. The power-play did it again for the Comets when Tyce Thompson, who scored the previous night for Utica at home, added another goal in his second game back from injury as his one-timer setup by Robbie Russo at 3:04. It was Thompson’s sixth goal of the season. The Phantoms pushed back with a man-advantage goal of theirs after Garrett Wilson scored at 16:25. The Comets left the second period still up, this time by a 2-1 score. In the final period of regulation, the Phantoms tied the game after a wrist shot by Adam Clendening sailed passed a screened Mitens at 7:43. Despite the numerous chances late, the Comets were defeated by the Phantoms, 3-2.

Comets Leading Scorers: The team’s leading scorers heading into the weekend is forward Fabian Zetterlund with 24 goals and 28 assists for 51 points in 58 games played. Following him is AJ Greer with 22 goals and 28 assists for 50 points in 50 games. Third in scoring is Chase DeLeo, scoring 15 goals and 32 assists for 47 points in 45 games played. Leading Comets defenseman in scoring is Reilly Walsh leads all d-men in scoring with seven goals and 29 assists for 36 points in 61 games. Defenseman Tyler Wotherspoon leads the team in plus/minus with a +25 rating.

Special Teams Ranking: Heading into the week, the Comets begin with the 4th ranked power play operating at 23.5%. At home, their power play operates at 19.4%. On the penalty kill, Utica ranks 10th in the league at 81.7% while at home they are 87.1% 

The North Division: The Comets have 10 games remaining in the schedule with 62 games played so far this season. They currently hold a record of 39-16-6 -1 which gives them 85 points and a winning percentage of .685. This leads all teams in the North and the Eastern Conference. The team closests to the Comets in winning percentage is the Laval Rocket with a .568.

AJ Greer-- Player of the Week: The American Hockey League announced today that Utica Comets forward A.J. Greer has been selected as the AHL Player of the Week for the period ending April 3, 2022. Greer posted four goals and six assists for 10 points in four games for the Eastern Conference-leading Comets last week. Greer tied his season high with four points last Monday night, recording a goal and three assists to pace Utica to a 7-3 victory at Hartford. On Wednesday, he registered his second hat trick of the season – scoring once on the power play, once shorthanded and once at even strength – and set a career high with nine shots on goal in a 4-3 loss at Rochester. And in a 5-3 win over Syracuse on Friday, Greer recorded three assists, his third consecutive game with at least three points. Greer has established career highs with 22 goals, 28 assists and 50 points in 50 games for the Comets in 2021-22, his sixth pro campaign.