COMETS MEET AMERKS IN ROCHESTER
Apr 23, 2021Tonight's Game: The Comets take on their division rival, the Rochester Americans, on the road at the Blue Cross Arena tonight in the hopes of winning back-to-back games. The Comets are looking for their first road victory since Saturday, February 27. In six meeting the Comets have a 3-2-1 record. In the last meeting between the two teams on Friday, April 9, the Americans skated away with 4-2 victory inside the Adirondack Bank Center. The game came after the Comets were forced off the ice for a month as they went through COVID protocols.
Last Game: The Comets faced the Binghamton Devils this past Wednesday looking to get back in the win column after dropping two straight road games giving up six goals in each of those contests. The Comets came out sluggish being outshot 12-3 in the opening frame. Rookie goalie Joel Hoffer stood tall and turned away every shot he faced. Tanner Kaspick opened the scoring for the Comets with 2:28 remaining in the second period with help from Ethan Keppan who registered his first professional point on the goal. The Devils continued to test Hofer but the Comets netminder was up to the task finishing with 41 saves on the night and earning his first professional shutout. The Comets would add goals from Mitch Reinke and Will Lockwood to seal the 3-0 victory.
Scouting the Americans: Brett Murray leads the Americans in points with 15 (6G, 9A) in 19 games this season. Only a point behind him is leading goal scorer Remi Ellie with eight goals and six assists in 19 games. The Comets will look to slow down the red-hot rookie defensemen, Oskari Laaksonen who registered 13 points (5G, 8A) from the blue line. In the net, the Americans will likely turn to Stefanos Lekkas who has taken over starting role since Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s call up. Lekkas has posted a 5.01 GAA and .846 SAV% in four games.
Lockwood Gets His First: Rookie forward Will Lockwood netted his first professional goal in the third period of Wednesday’s contest off a beautiful pass from Mitch Reinke. Lockwood moved right to left and undressed Devils goaltender Mareks Miterns. The shorthanded goal was his fifth point in 16 games. Lockwood, who attended the University of Michigan, was second in scoring for the Wolverines in his senior season.