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Comets Outlast Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 2-1

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March 22, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL) Utica Comets The Utica Comets inched closer to the playoff line in the Western Conference as they gritted out another close game with a 2-1 victory over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Saturday evening at Mohegan Sun Arena. The win was the 38th one goal game this season for the Comets, the second most in the AHL.

Pascal Pelletier and Colin Stuart each scored for the Comets, who improved to 28-28-3-4 with the victory. Joe Cannata collected his eighth victory of the season with 22 saves on 23 shots, while Peter Mannino took the defeat with 27 stops for the Penguins.

Just as it was last evening, the first period went scoreless with neither team finding a way through. Utica held the shots on goal advantage at 7-3, with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton not collecting a shot on net until the 3:07 mark of the period. Alex Grenier had potentially the period's best chance off of a feed from Cal O'Reilly, but Mannino held firm with one of seven stops. Cannata turned aside each of the three Penguin shots he faced.

The Comets opened the scoring midway through the middle stanza with a power-play goal at the 12:28 mark of the second. Pelletier took a feed from Alexandre Grenier on the back post and elevated a shot over an outstretched Mannino for the goal. Winger Brandon DeFazio also picked up an assist for Utica, his fifth point over the team's past six games.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton took just under three minutes to respond, as veteran winger Chuck Kobasew beat Cannata to knot the score at one. The goal was Kobasew's third in as many games with the AHL's version of the Penguins this season. Center Andrew Ebbett and defenseman Brian Dumoulin collected the assists on the play.

The Comets found the game-winning goal at the 8:01 mark of the third period as Stuart remained hot with what went down as an even strength marker. After nearly four straight minutes of time with the man advantage had expired, Stuart put home a feed from Cal O'Reilly, who picked now has a point in eight of his past nine games. The goal was also Stuart's fourth over his past three games. Center Alex Friesen collected the secondary assist on the play, his sixth point in eight games during the month of March.

Cannata remained hot as he moved to 5-1-0 over his past seven starts. Dating back to a 3-1 victory on Jan. 18 against the Hamilton Bulldogs, Cannata has turned aside 181 of the 191 shots he has faced, good for a .948 save percentage. The Merrimack graduate has also won each of his past four starts outside of the state of New York.

The Comets are back in action tomorrow evening with a game of great magnitude against the Milwaukee Admirals. Milwaukee sits just three points over the playoff line in the Western Conference. Puck drop is set for 5:00 p.m. from the Utica Memorial Auditorium.

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Comets Outlast Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 2-1

Gameday: Comets at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton

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March 22, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL) Utica Comets UTICA COMETS (27-28-3-4) @ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (35-20-3-5)

Tonight's Game: The Comets travel to Pennsylvania tonight for the final time this season, to take on the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Utica comes into tonight's action in desperate search of a victory, eight points behind Rockford for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

When They Last Met: The Comets pulled a little bit of magic out of their hats in a 2-1 shootout win over the Penguins on March 7 at The AUD. Brandon DeFazio scored with just 7.7 seconds left to force overtime, before Cal O'Reilly won the game in the fifth round of the shootout. Joacim Eriksson stole the show with 32 saves on 33 shots, including a perfect five of five during the shootout for the victory.

Comets Outlook: The Utica Comets lost a disappointing 4-3 tilt last evening against the Adirondack Phantoms at The AUD. Utica got goals from Brandon DeFazio, Colin Stuart and Kent Huskins, but were defeated by an Adirondack team led by three points from Jason Akeson (2-1-3). Joacim Eriksson made 21 saves in defeat while Yann Danis turned aside 35 of 38 Utica shots for the victory.

Penguins Outlook: A 16 save shutout from Peter Mannino led the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins to a 2-0 victory over the Syracuse Crunch last evening at the War Memorial. Forwards Spencer Machacek and Adam Payerl scored for the Penguins, who won their fifth consecutive game. Sochi hero Kristers Gudlevskis made 26 saves on 28 shots in defeat for Syracuse.

Here Come The Comets: Since Jan. 18, the Comets have been the AHL's third highest producing team with 34 points, courtesy of a 16-9-2 record. Utica, which trails just St. John's and Chicago in points during that span, is currently tied for eleventh place in the Western Conference with 61 points on the season, eight behind Rockford for the eighth and final playoff spot.

Brand Theft Auto: With a goal last evening against Adirondack, Comets winger Brandon DeFazio has now scored a goal in four of his past five games. The Oakville, ON native now has a career high 13 goals this season and has tied his AHL best from 2012-13 with 25 points. DeFazio also has a career high 152 shots and currently sits at a +4 rating, which would also be a career best.

Time Well Kent: Defenseman Kent Huskins was named the game's second star last evening with a multi-point performance (1-1-2). The goal was just the third of the season for Huskins, who also collected his first two-point game at any level since Feb. 18, 2011 when he played for the St. Louis Blues of the NHL. His last two-point effort in the AHL came on Feb. 23, 2007, when Huskins was a member of the Portland Pirates. Huskins also hit the 200-assist milestone for his career with the helper on teammate Brandon DeFazio's goal.

More Milestones To Come: If they are both in the lineup, defenseman Henrik Tommernes and winger Brandon DeFazio are both in line for a milestone in tonight's game. For Tommernes, tonight will be his 250th professional game played, while DeFazio is in line for his 200th game played in the AHL.

Scouting The Penguins: AHL veteran winger Tom Kostopoulos leads all Wilkes-Barre/Scranton skaters with 21 goals and 44 points. Center Nick Drazenovic is tops on the roster amongst forwards with 26 assists over 46 games, while Brandon Mikkelson leads all Penguin skaters with 27.

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Gameday: Comets at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton

Gameday: Comets vs. Milwaukee

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March 23, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL) Utica Comets MILWAUKEE ADMIRALS (30-21-6-6) @ UTICA COMETS (28-28-3-4)

Utica Memorial Auditorium, 5 pm

Radio: 94.9 K-Rock

Tonight's Game: The Utica Comets face their conference rivals, the Milwaukee Admirals, in a critical matchup for Utica's playoff chances. The Comets enter tonight's contest just eight points out of a playoff spot, with Milwaukee one of three teams in their crosshairs.

When They Last Met: The Comets pulled out a 3-0 shutout in Milwaukee on Feb. 7, led by 21 saves from Joacim Eriksson and two goals from Darren Archibald. Defenseman Kent Huskins also scored for the Comets. For Eriksson, the shutout was his fourth of the season, which, at the time, moved him to second in the AHL in that category. Marek Mazanec made 28 saves on 31 shots in defeat.

Comets Outlook: In another gritty performance, the Utica Comets defeated the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 2-1 at Mohegan Sun Arena. Pascal Pelletier and Colin Stuart scored for the Comets, who moved back to the .500 mark with the win. Alex Friesen, Alex Grenier, Cal O'Reilly and Brandon DeFazio each picked up assists for Utica. Joe Cannata collected the victory with 22 saves on 23 shots, while Peter Mannino took the defeat despite a 27 save effort.

Admirals Outlook: The Admirals were victorious over the Toronto Marlies, 5-1 last evening at Ricoh Coliseum. Milwaukee got multi-point games from Filip Forsberg (1-1-2), Mark Van Guilder (1-1-2), Miikka Salomaki (1-1-2) and Patrick Cehlin (0-2-2). Austin Watson and Scott Ford also scored, while goaltender Scott Darling got the victory, with 30 saves on 31 shots. Christopher Gibson took the defeat after he was pulled through just nine saves on 12 shots. Trevor Smith scored the lone Toronto goal.

Here Come The Comets: Since Jan. 18, the Comets have been the AHL's second highest producing team with 36 points, courtesy of a 17-7-2 record. Utica, which trails just St. John's in both wins and points during that span, has moved into sole possession of 11th place in the Western Conference, eight points shy of the final playoff position with two games in hand.

Stuart Not So Little: Winger Colin Stuart is currently riding a three game goal scoring streak, extended with his game winner last evening in Wilkes-Barre. The Rochester, MN native is now tied for the team lead with four game winning goals this season, and has taken over sole possession of second on the Comets, with 17 total goals scored.

The Cannataj Mahal: Goaltender Joe Cannata has quietly put together a solid string of games, with a 5-1-0 record over his past seven starts. Dating back to a 3-1 victory on Jan. 18 against the Hamilton Bulldogs, Cannata has turned aside 181 of the 191 shots he has faced, good for a .948 save percentage. The Merrimack graduate has also won each of his past four starts outside of the state of New York.

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Gameday: Comets vs. Milwaukee

Comets Snap Pens' Five-Game Winning Streak

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March 22, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL) Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins WILKES-BARRE, PA. - Colin Stuart's goal eight minutes into the third period proved to be the difference, as the Utica Comets skated to a 2-1 win over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in front of a sold out Mohegan Sun Arena on Saturday night.

The Penguins (35-21-3-5, 78 points) saw their five game winning streak and seven game points streak snapped, while the Comets (28-28-3-4, 63 points) won for the sixth time in their past eight games.

Stuart beat a screened Peter Mannino with a nifty wrister that appeared to change course en route to the net, with the goal coming just two seconds after a tripping call on the Penguins goaltender expired. It was Stuart's 17th goal of the season, the second highest total on the Utica roster.

After a scoreless first period, Utica opened the scoring with a power play goal off of the stick of Pascal Pelletier at 12:28 of the second. The Comets' leading scorer swept home a quick shot into the far corner of the Pens net with Mannino blocked by one of his own defensemen. The goal was the first allowed by Mannino in 194:48 of play, which included back-to-back shutouts against the Norfolk Admirals and Syracuse Crunch.

Chuck Kobasew tied the score less than three minutes later, taking a pass from Andrew Ebbett behind the Utica defense and snapping a low shot past netminder Joe Cannata. Kobasew, who was a veteran scratch in Syracuse on Friday night, has now scored one goal in each of the three games he has suited up for with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Beau Bennett made his return to action after being sidelined with a wrist injury for four months. Assigned to Wilkes-Barre on a conditioning stint by Pittsburgh earlier in the day, Bennett was held off the scoresheet, but did see time on the Pens power play unit. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton is back in action in Atlantic City on Sunday afternoon, where they will face the Albany Devils at 4:00pm.

Good seats for all Penguins home games are available at the Mohegan Sun Arena box office, online at TicketMaster.com, or by calling 800-745-3000. Group rates, flex books and mini-plans are available directly from the Penguins ticket office by calling 570-208-7367.

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Comets Snap Pens' Five-Game Winning Streak

Comets looking to build from final four team

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It is not quite to the Hello, my name is name tag level, but there is a lot of getting to know you going on this spring for Liann Muff.

The Mason High School softball team will have a lot of new faces after five graduated from a 23-8 season that ended with a loss in the Final Four.

We had great team chemistry last year, Muff said. I dont know if we can recreate that or not.

But, it is one of the things that the Comets have had to work on each day in practice.

We hope to have that (chemistry) and it is something we will continue to learn through the preseason,: Muff said. Right now, they are still learning about the girl playing next to them. What kind of arm they have, where their range is, how far out the have to go for the cut we have people in different places. It has been more of a challenge this preseason.

The other challenge is who will step up and take the leadership role on the team.

Our underclassmens work ethic is incredible, Muff said. Now, we are just waiting for someone to step up and lead.

Returning ace Tory Stewart, back for her senior campaign, will be a big voice in the circle for the Comets after a 19-7 mark with a 1.10 ERA.

Classmates Jessica Casciotti, Hannah Mizener, Emily Leeson, Taylor Stewart, Casey Miller and Liz Hillen all give the Comets experience as do juniors Jordan Sullivan, Gabby LaSala and Hailey Ellis.

That group definitely feels like they have some unfinished business, Muff said of the trip to the state semis. They have worked really hard in the offseason and there are some strong leaders in the group.

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Comets looking to build from final four team

'Excellent' team can win trophies this season, says Workington speedway owner

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Published at 12:19, Thursday, 20 March 2014

WORKINGTON Comets have a squad capable of winning trophies this season, according to owner Laura Morgan.

The Comets supremo is confident she has the riders to take on the best after seeing the spirit developed inside the camp during a team-bonding trip to Center Parcs this week.

Morgan said: I am extremely confident we can do something this season.

We have an excellent team and management in place to win things.

After the fun and games of this week, were all focused on making sure we get the first bit of silverware in the Ian Thomas Shield. Thats our aim, and then we concentrate of the Premier League, and the cups well be involved in.

Comets kick off their campaign on Saturday when they host Newcastle Diamonds, before making the trip to the North East 24 hours.

The double header is the curtain raiser and is in memory of the late, great Ian Thomas, who is widely regarded as the man who brought speedway to west Cumbria.

The seven-man team and the Derwent Park management has spent the last 24 hours swimming, cycling, walking and enjoying meals together in a bid to make sure they are unified ahead of the first race of the season.

Morgan said it was a joy to see her squad getting on so well, and added: If youd seen the antics out of the lads, youd have thought theyd been best mates for years.

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'Excellent' team can win trophies this season, says Workington speedway owner


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