UTICA COMETS (28-9-5-0 – 61 Points) vs.
TORONTO MARLIES (22-12-2-1 – 47 Points)
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2022
| 1 | 2 | 3 | OT | FINAL | |
| UTICA | 0 | 1 | 1 | – | 2 |
| TORONTO | 2 | 2 | 2 | – | 6 |
GAME SUMMARY | GAME SHEET | PHOTOS | SCRUMS
SCORING SUMMARY
Utica: F. Zetterlund (18) PP (R. Russo, J. Gambardella), A. Holtz (17) (C. De Leo, M. Vukojevic)
Goaltender: A. Schmid (25/31) L
Toronto: N. Ritchie (1) PP (J. Anderson, B. Seney), A. Steeves (13) (J. Anderson, B. Seney), J. Blandisi (5) (N. Robertson, J. Duszak), J. Kopacka (4) (B. McMann), J. Blandisi (6) (C. Dahlström), B. McMann (11) (M. Hollowell, B. Seney)
Goaltender: E. Källgren (32/34) W
ON THE SCORESHEET
- Nick Ritchie opened the scoring on the power play at 12:34 of the first period in his first game with the Marlies.
- Alex Steeves scored on the power play at 17:53 of the first period. This was Steeves’ third power play goal of the season. He has 24 points (13 goals, 11 assists) in 26 games this season.
- Joseph Blandisi scored at 3:12 of the second period and 8:14 of the third period. He has points (4-6-10) in six of his last seven games.
- Jack Kopacka scored at 4:23 of the second period. He has eight points (4 goals, 4 assists) in 28 games this season.
- Bobby McMann scored at 14:58 of the third period and earlier had the lone assist on Kopacka’s second period goal. He has 16 points (11 goals, 5 assists) in 28 games this season.
- Joey Anderson recorded the primary assists on Ritchie and Steeves’ first period goals. He has points (1-2-3) in consecutive games.
- Brett Seney collected the secondary assists on Ritchie and Steeves’ first period goals and McMann’s third period goal. He has nine points (1 goal, 8 assists) through his last six games. This was his fifth three-point game of the season.
- Nick Robertson registered the primary assist on Blandisi’s second period goal. He has five points (2 goals, 3 assists) in five games.
- Joseph Duszak picked up the secondary assist on Blandisi’s second period goal. He is tied for second overall amongst defencemen in assists (26).
- Mac Hollowell recorded the primary assist on McMann’s third period goal. He has points (1-2-3) in his last three games played. Hollowell has 14 points (3 goals, 11 assists) in 23 games this season.
- Erik Källgren stopped 32 of 34 shots he faced. This was his fourth consecutive win. He is 13-6-0 on the season with a 0.913 save percentage.
OF NOTE
- The Marlies are on a six-game point streak (5-0-1-0) and have outscored their opponents 26-13.
- This was Greg Moore’s 50th win as head coach of the Marlies.
- This is the second game this season Toronto has recorded six goals, both against Utica.
- Toronto went 2-for-3 on the penalty kill and 2-for-5 on the power play. Toronto is 15-7-1-0 when scoring on the power play and 10-6-2-1 when allowing a goal on the penalty kill. Toronto has recorded two power play goals in seven games this season.
- Utica had a 34-31 edge in shots in all situations. Nick Robertson and Alex Steeves led the Marlies with five shots on goal. Toronto is 15-8-2-1 when outshot by their opponent.
- The Marlies are 12-7-1-1 against North Division opponents and 2-1-0-0 against the Comets. Toronto’s last game against Utica was on Jan. 5 in a 6-4 home win. Toronto has outscored Utica 14-11 through three games.
| RECORD WHEN Scoring first 16-1-1-1 Leading after 11-1-2-1 Leading after 2 16-1-2-1 At home 11-5-1-1 February 3-0-0-0 Wednesday 4-3-0-1 | MARLIES LEADERS *Amongst active players Goals 14 (J. Anderson) Assists 26 (J. Duszak) Points 34 (B. Seney) PPG 5 (J. Anderson) Shots 87 (A. Steeves) +/- +13 (B. Seney) PIMS 55 (R. Clune) |
POSTGAME QUOTES
HEAD COACH GREG MOORE
On Toronto’s power play (2 goals):
Power play looked sharp, along with the overall team game in terms of our puck play, looked really clean. You could tell that they were anticipating where to go with the puck before they got it and the mindset of everybody using each other and using all five guys on the ice.
On Joseph Blandisi:
He’s been really good. He’s been scoring a lot lately, he’s really, really competitive. He works really hard, does a lot of little things well defensively, makes it hard on other guys and the other team. He closes quickly, plays inside of contact and finishes his hits. He brings a lot of energy, not only physically but verbally on our bench.
On Nick Ritchie:
He played great. Obviously, a goal there to get us started. He was a presence for us on the power play. Good strong wall plays on breakouts. For a big guy he moves really well, sees the ice really well and has really subtle hands to make small area plays and make his teammates better.
JACK KOPACKA (1 GOAL)
On Toronto’s forecheck:
It’s a big part of our game plan. We have a lot of skilled players on our team, a lot of guys with a lot of speed and we can get behind their D and work the cycle game. We’ve got big bodies as well as skilled players that can make plays out of the corners and we’re having a lot of success.
On the team’s attitude:
We’re going good right now, but you got to keep it going. I think we have a lot to prove to ourselves going into trying to make a playoff push. It’s going to be exciting.
UPCOMING GAMES:
*All times Eastern Standard Time
February 18 at Belleville – 7:00 p.m.
February 19 vs. Belleville – 4:00 p.m.
February 21 vs. Laval – 3:00 p.m. (Scotiabank Arena)
February 23 vs. Laval – 7:00 p.m.
February 26 at Rochester – 3:05 p.m.
The view from left field 