Comets Off to Franchise's Second-Best Start Through First 12 Games

Nov 12, 2026

Utica, NY – The Utica Comets are 10-2 through their first 12 games of the 2026-27 season, the team's second-best start in franchise history, and sit atop the AHL with an .833 points percentage. 

The Comets' best-ever start to a season came in 2021-22 when they won 13 straight games to start the year. Although they haven't gone undefeated, this year's team is on par with that of 2021-22 and is off to a better start than the team that reached the Calder Cup Finals in 2014-15, which started the season going 9-3 in its first 12 games.  

Opening the season on a positive note has been one of the reasons for the Comets' success. They won their season opener for the first time since the 2021-22 season and were victorious in their home opener for the first time since the 2022-23 season. 

Goaltending has been another factor in the Comets' successful start. They're coming off back-to-back shutouts for the first time since the 2023-24 season, and it's just the second time in franchise history in which the Comets have posted two or more shutouts in their first 12 games.  

With a season-high 25 saves on Tuesday against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Comets' goaltender David Rittich recorded his 11th career AHL shutout and is tied for second in the AHL with six wins on the year. The following night, Jakub Malek turned aside all 19 shots that he faced in a 1-0 win against Belleville. The second-year AHL netminder is now 4-1 and leads the league with a 1.39 goals-against average, having allowed just one goal or fewer in three of his five starts. 

The Comets' penalty kill has also been a formidable force, sitting first in the AHL with a 91.5% success rate and having allowed the fewest goals when shorthanded at just four. They've also shown an ability to strike offensively on the kill, scoring three shorthanded goals in the first 12 games for just the second time in franchise history. Their 5-3 win in Rochester on October 21st was also the first time since 2024-25 that they had scored two or more non-empty net shorthanded goals in a single game.  

The Comets' current six-game winning streak marks the first time since 2021-22 in which they've accomplished such a feat, and they will look to keep it going tomorrow when they welcome the Syracuse Crunch back to town with puck drop at 6 PM. For tickets, please visit uticacomets.com/tickets or call 315-790-9070.