01/05/2017 – CanucksBanter

Vancouver Canucks’ Jordan Subban (67) has his eye on the puck next to Edmonton Oilers’ Matt Benning (83) during first period 2016 NHL Young Stars Classic action at the South Okanagan Events Centre in Penticton, BC., September 16, 2016. NICK PROCAYLO / PNG

team_ahl_utica_commets

By Andrew Chernoff

Jan 5, 2017

The Utica Comets (10-15-5-1) are back in action on Friday, January 6 as they conclude a five-game homestand against North division rivals, the Albany Devils (20-13-0-1), hoping to snap their 9 consecutive game losing streak (0-4-4-1).

The Comets are presently in 7th and last place in the North Division of the American Hockey League, with 26 points; while, the Devils occupy 2nd place in the same division, with 41 points.

The Comets are one of five teams that do not have a home record above .500.

The team enters January where they only play five home games, three of which on the last week of the month.

LAST GAME

The Utica dropped a 6-3 decision to the Rochester Americans on Saturday, Dec 31 at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.

The Comets struck first with a goal from Alexandre Grenier on the power play eight minutes into the game. Rochester battled back with two goals in the first to take the lead. Darren Archibald tied the game in the second period with a feed from Curits Valk.

The Americans scored two more goals in the middle part of the second period to grab a 4-2 lead. Entering the third period, Rochester added another goal to extend the lead. Colby Robak tallied the final Comets goal to close the gap. An empty netter concluded the scoring to give the Americans a 6-3 win.

The Comets power play went 2-10, while the penalty kill surrendered one goal in five attempts.

Demko stopped 17 of 22 shots as his record falls to 7-8-3. Linus Ullmark made 26 saves to improve his record to 13-12-1.

Source: Utica Comets

HEAD-TO-HEAD

The Comets have played the Devils four times this season and are 2-1-1-0 against Albany, including a 3-1 victory in their only home game against the Devils on Dec 3.

Alex Grenier leads the Comets in scoring (8-15=23 points), followed by Jordan Subban (8-12=20 points) and Curtis Valk (10-9=19 points).

VIRTANEN WATCH

Jake Virtanen continues to put in his time in the AHL with the Canucks affiliate, and after 20 games has 4 goals-3 assists=7 points.

JORDAN SUBBAN TO REPRESENT COMETS AT 2017 AHL ALL-STAR GAME

Jordan Subban has been selected to represent Utica at the 2017 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Capital BlueCross, to be held January 29-30 at the PPL Center in Allentown, Pa., home of the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

UTICA ON ROAD SATURDAY, SUNDAY TO FINISH UP WEEKEND

The Comets leave for Hershey after Friday night, to take on the Bears on Saturday; then off to face the Leigh High Valley Phantoms, Sunday.

Alaska Aces Fall 6-1 To Idaho Steelheads on January 4, 2017 in Boise, Idaho. Picture Credit: www.adn.com — Alaska Aces Fall 6-1 To Idaho Steelheads on January 4, 2017 in Boise, Idaho. Picture Credit: http://www.adn.com

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By Andrew Chernoff

Jan 5, 2017

The Alaska Aces (18-8-1-4) take on the Idaho Steelheads (19-11-2-1) on Friday night, in the second game of three this weekend, and hope for a different result, than last night, in Boise, Idaho.

The Steelheads gave the Aces their worst defeat of the season, 6-1, at CenturyLink Arena last night, in the opener of a three-game series.

The Aces two game winning streak also came to a resounding end with the loss.

Alaska is now 9-4-3 on the road this season, and 1-1-1-1 in games against Idaho at CenturyLink Arena this season.

The ECHL Mountain division continues to be a four team race for top spot, as the Aces and Steelheads are tied for 3rd and 4th place with 41 points, both a single point behind 1rst and 2nd place Allen Americans and Colordao Eagles, both with 42 points each.

The Aces only goal came in the third period, Tim Wallace, his 8th of the season, from Steve Tarasuk and Stephen Perfetto, at 2:20 on the power play.

Michael Garteig’s return to the Aces from the Utica Comets of the American Hockey League was ruined, as he stopped 31 of 37 Steelhead shots.

Garteig’s earlier eight starts, in which he was 7-1-0 for the Aces, before his stint with Utica, he didn’t allow more than four goals.

Alaska outshot Idaho 45-37 for the game, with the Aces 1-7 on the power play, 2 for 3 on the penalty kill.

The Aces and Steelheads will play also play on Saturday night at the CenturyLink Arena. Game time is 5:10pm AST for both games.

The Aces and Steelheads after this weekend play their final six match ups against each other later this season in Anchorage.

Aces 0 0 1 1

Idaho 2 2 2 6

First Period – 1, Idaho, Ewanyk 14 (Basaraba, Faust), 14:34; 2, Idaho, Lain 7 (Merchant, Faust), 16:52 (pp). Penalties – Wallace, Aces (roughing), 15:40; Basaraba, Idaho (tripping), 17:41.

Second Period – 3, Idaho, Ewanyk 15 (Basaraba, Jean), 1:01; 4, Idaho, Luciani 11 (Linsmayer), 7:11. Penalties – Lake, Aces (slashing), 13:23; Walsh, Idaho (interference), 16:39.

Third Period – 5, Aces, Wallace 8 (Tarasuk, Perfetto), 2:20 (pp); 6, Idaho, Troock 4 (Linsmayer, Baldwin), 9:08; 7, Idaho, Basaraba 8 (Jean, Merchant), 9:40. Penalties – Karjalainen, Idaho (elbowing), 2:09; Lauwers, Aces (delay of game-puck over glass), 4:50; Idaho bench minor (too many men), 5:44; Bell, Idaho (cross-checking), 6:15; Baldwin, Idaho (hooking), 10:08; Troock, Idaho (boarding), 18:15.

Source: https://www.adn.com