COMETS TAKE ANOTHER SWING AT ICECAPS
Jan 18, 2017UTICA COMETS (16-16-6) vs. ST. JOHN’S ICECAPS (19-15-5)
Mile One Centre, 6:00 p.m.
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Tonight’s Game: The Utica Comets matchup against the St. John’s IceCaps for fourth time and final time in Newfoundland this season. It is the seventh of eight meetings in the season series.
Last Game: Pascal Pelletier began the scoring with a tally just 2:20 into the game with an assist from Cody Kunyk. This score began a three-point night for the two players. The IceCaps tied the game with a one-timer goal from Charles Hudon but Evan McEneny regained the lead for the Comets with a wrist shot from the blue line. His third of the season began a three-point as well.
Pelletier extended the Comets lead with a deflection score on a McEneny shot for his second of the night. Chris Terry beat Richard Bachman to begin the third but Kunyk scored back-to-back goals to conclude the scoring and help the Comets to a 5-2 win. Bachman stopped 26 shots to even his record to 7-7-1.
Head-to-Head: The Comets beat the IceCaps for the first time this season in last night’s victory. Three of the six games in the series have been extended to overtime. All-time, the Comets have won three times in regulation and hold a record of 4-4-6. Despite going pointless last night, Alexandre Grenier leads the Comets in the season series with five points (one goal and four assists). Nikita Scherbak was also held pointless last night but still leads the IceCaps with six points (three goals and three assists).
Scouting the IceCaps: St. John’s has only won twice in the last seven games. Chris Terry returned from Montreal and tallied a goal and an assist last night to continue his point streak to eight games. Rookie netminder Charlie Lindgren suffered his first loss in six starts against the Comets by allowing five goals last night.
Join the Party: Pascal Pelletier, Cody Kunyk and Mike Zalewski combined for eight points in last night’s game. The line supported the team to a win after a pointless effort from Alexandre Grenier, Curtis Valk and Darren Archibald.
Mac Truck: Evan McEneny doubled his point production last night with three points (one goal and two assists). He entered the game with just three points in 27 games. The defenseman tallied a goal in each of the last two games with an empty net goal on Saturday against Bridgeport.
Richie Rich: Richard Bachman posted his third consecutive victory last night by stopping 26 shots. In those games, the netminder has stopped 94 of 98 shots for a .959 save percentage. Since his return from injury, he has allowed more than two goals in one of six starts.
Next Game: The Comets complete the five-game road trip with a 7 p.m. contest in Syracuse against the Crunch on Saturday night.