It’s a busy, BUSY weekend for the Farm this weekend folks; The Comets return to action for their 2nd of a triple header this weekend facing off against the Tampa Bay Lightning’s farmteam the Syracuse Crunch! The Crunch are riding hot on a 3 game win streak, wheras the Comets are coming off their first back-to-back losses since mid-November. The physicality of Binghamton really took its toll on the team; splitting the December series against the Devils 2-2, where the Comets just got absolutely battered, with serious injuries coming to Jonathan Dahlen and Ashton Sautner, and minor ones to Jamie Sifers and Dylan Blujus.

 

Despite all those aforementioned injuries, the Comets persevered and have managed to go 7-3-1-0 through the month of December; with the Comets picking up their most impressive victories to date against the league leading Charlotte Checkers while missing practically the majority of their core players. Comets are 8-4-0-1 coming off a loss this season, and I’m sure looking ahead to their 3rd game in 3 nights, they won’t want to go into their final home game of the year on 3 straight losses. With that little pre-amble out of the way let’s get into tonight’s lineup where it appears Cull has shaken things up a bit in lieu of facing a much less “old-school” style of hockey, team.

 

Starting Lineup

 

LW	C	RW
Jasek	Kero	Boucher
Dahlen	Gaunce	Archibald
MacMaster	Darcy	MacEwen
Arseneau	Bancks	Lind

LD	RD
Brisebois	McEneny
Dirk	Blujus
Graham	Sifers

G
Ivan Kulbakov

 

Benched	—
Cameranesi	Saucerman

 

RE: Benchings

Due to the nature of the triple-header, Demko sits to avoid 7 straight starts, so Ivan Kulbakov gets the start tonight…Hopefully he’s worked on his glove side since he was last seen in net for the Comets! Rightly so, Jagger Dirk gets slotted back in alongside Dylan Blujus while Saucerman sits…Saucerman still is very competent as a defenseman, but Dirk has definitely showed more promise on Blujus side. It’s a good problem to have when your two ECHL call-ups can BOTH slot in and be effective contributors to the team.

RE: INJURY REPORT

Still the same old injuries; Gadjovich apparently IS an option for the weekend game, but that remains to be seen.

Injury Report	—	—	—	—	—	—
Bachman	Chatfield	Gadjovich	Hamilton	Juolevi	Sautner	Woods
Achilles	lower body	lower body	concussion	Out for the season	his fucking faceeeeeee	lower body

 

Streamable Clarity Improvement Notice

 

Continuing with last issues theme, going to be Players full name (jersey number) – place in streamable (if not outright obvious) then every sub sequential play featuring that player it’ll be last name(jersey number) – place in streamable (if not outright obvious) I’m also going to reduce the amount of hyperlink in the GOAL streamables, since that’s what I think MOST people are here for and don’t want some gaudy blue taking up the screen.

 

1st period

 

Comets in White

 

• lmao the guy who helps out with the opening puck drop completely ate shit on the ice
• Brendan Gaunce and his bro Cameron Gaunce do the ceremonial puck drop together, pretty cute
• Kulbakov tested early. 3 shots on goal in the first 28 seconds
• lol, Dylan Blujus(#8) gets away with a missed punch to the head and follow up shove to the face
• Tanner MacMaster(#19) blocks a shot off the inside of his ankle
• off that block; Zack MacEwen(#15) drives down the left wing through 3 Crunch players and tries to set up Cam Darcy(#11)
• Comets best penalty killer, Carter Bancks(#34) gets called on a hooking minor; Comets to the penalty kill against the League’s leading powerplay team
• Camerman for this game thinks he’s filming an action movie…constant zooming in and out…a bit jarring so apologies if you guys have trouble tracking players
• GOAL – SYRACUSE – 1-0 Crunch: I jinxed it by commenting on Kulbakov’s glove… Crunch go gloveside on the powerplay and take the lead
• alt angle sort of…ref kinda in the way
• Comets without a shot after 6 minutes of play
• Blujus(#8) takes an interference minor and the Comets are on their second penalty kill of the night
• Brendan Gaunce(#16) with his patented breakaway on the penalty kill as he beats his brother down the wing but has his pass to Darren Archibald(#25) stolen by former Comet Cory Conacher
• Jagger Dirk(#4) controls a Kulbakov rebound and calmly passes it off while under pressure
• Kulbakov gets a good glove stop while screened
• GOAL – SYRACUSE – 2-0 Crunch: Taylor Raddysh gets an easy pass to Carter Verhaeaghe at center who barely taps the puck to get it past Kulbakov, and gives the Crunch the 2 goal lead
• Darcy(#11) takes a vicious elbow to the head from Dominik Mason along the boards; Jesus this team gets absolutely beat to shit no matter who they play…cheap shots everywhere
• Comets on the powerplay; MacEwen(#15) tries to turn and get a shot off in front of the net but has it stopped
• refs may legitimately have vision problems; here’s Kulbakov making a sprawling save on a Crunch breakaway then getting a stick to the head as he’s lying down to block the net
• Crunch tendy Eddie Pasquale with a huge save on Archibald(#25)
• Bancks(#34) gets drilled, and fucking Kole Lind(#13) of all people comes to the defense of his team’s captain
• Gaunce^TM
• GOAL – SYRACUSE – 3-0 Crunch: Glove side again; Really not good to have such a blatantly weak area of your game as a goaltender…

 

Score at the end of the first period: 3-0 Crunch

 

Outshot 18 to 9…frankly I’m pretty shocked the Comets even HAD 9 shots because it felt like they were just late to the puck the entire period. There’s been some absolutely brutal officiating tonight as well; no clue how that reckless and dangerous elbow doesn’t get more than just 2 minutes? Also it really doesn’t speak well to the managements prep for this season if literally NONE of the centers can carry the puck through center and enter the zone. The only guy who CAN enter the zone is Gaunce but he seemingly only does it on a man-disadvantage, and does it through the wing as its clearly where he’s more comfortable playing. If the Comets can’t figure out a way to maintain possession while crossing into the Crunch’ offensive zone, then I do not expect this game to be remotely competitive. Also…Kulbakov…bro….your glove side man…

 

2nd Period

 

• Two errant passes from MacMaster(#19) loses the zone for the Comets and then leads to a shot on Kulbakov
• GOAL – SYRACUSE – 4-0 Crunch: Jamie Sifers(#26) gets beaten hard to the puck by Troy Bourke, but he throws his body around to deny him possession. While trying to muscle Bourke away from the net though he gets away again and gets a tip on a Olivier Archambault shot to make it 4-0 for the Crunch
• Kulbakov gets the hook and Demko gets put in relief. That’s two nights back to back, with a 3rd game tomorrow…will be interesting to see how this plays out for him
• Jonathan Dahlen(#54) gets a golden opportunity in the Crunch’ end but sails it wide of the net
• Comets on their THIRD powerplay of the night; Dahlen(#54) tries to set up MacEwen(#15) in front for the tip-in goal but it goes high and wide off Mac’s stick
• Pasquale saves a Guillaume Brisebois(#55) shot in dramatic fashion
• Tanner Kero(#10) tries to bank a shot off MacEwen’s(#15) skate
• Lind(#13) with a pretty nice feed to Blujus(#8); couple times tonight, Comets players are just taking their sweet time on shot attempts
• GOAL – SYRACUSE – 5-0 Crunch: Carter Verhaeghe ignores Brisebois and just drives to the net on his own and gets it past Demko’s left pad
• alt angle shows that it looks like Verhaeghe’s shot deflects off Sifers(#26) toe as Demko pulls back his left pad
• Demko with a bit of an odd play as he appears to try to cover the puck to stop play, but then throws it out right to a Crunch player to avoid the stoppage?; Really bizarre play by him
• GOAL – UTICA – 5-1 Crunch: Darcy(#11) completes the wraparound and Vinny Arseneau(#18) is there to pick up the rebound and FINALLY puts the Comets on the board.
• Not clipped but Lind and Darcy combined for a nice zone entry that set up the teams first goal of the night
• Evan McEneny(#2) takes a high stick and the Comets will have their FOURTH powerplay of the night.
• Dahlen(#54 )with nice work along the board to maintain possession in the Crunch’ zone
• Brother Gaunce boards Reid Boucher(#24) and puts the Comets on a 2 man advantage; Boucher been looking to the refs after every hit or fall…he gonna get called for embellishment if he keeps it up
• Dahlen(#54) with a nice pass through a Crunch defender to Kero(#10) but again, he waits too long and Pasquale is there for the save
• GOAL – SYRACUSE – 6-1 Crunch: A shot from Dahlen(#54) sails wide of the net and around to Taylor Raddysh who’s leaving the penalty box, he takes it up the wing and feeds it to Gabriel Dumont who’s wraparound lands on Cory Conachers stick to regain the Crunch’s 5 goal lead (the worst lead in hockey)
• With a full period of hockey remaining, it’s hard to imagine how the Comets spirits are doing right now…A LOT of hockey left to play
• annnnnnnd Blujus gets called for hooking, so the Comets remaining powerplay time is over

 

The Score at the end of the 2nd period: 6-1

 

Comets outshot the Crunch 13 to 12…but it didn’t matter….Comets powerplay 0 for 5. What more can I say that doesn’t sound like a broken record at this point…Powerplay is predictable and stale… Not exactly sure WHY every Comet tonight is just taking their sweet time cherry picking their shots…JUST FUCKING ONE TIME IT. Also I can’t REALLY fault Demko on the two goals against…one was a super flukey bounce off Sifers toe, and the other was a breakaway from out of the penalty box that none of the Comets were ready for. Having no real warmup in preparation for this game and having played last night, I’m sure he’s just in an “oh well” state right now. Going to be another long 20 minutes unfortunately.

 

3rd Period

 

• Uh….Ivan Kulbakov BACK in net to start the 3rd period…gotta say that’s a first for me since I started the Farmies…I assume it’s to keep Demko fresh for tomorrow and the team is just calling this game a wash right now.
• MacMasterand Nolan Valleau go to the box for roughing 
• GOAL – SYRACUSE – 7-1 Crunch: Gabriel Dumont shorthanded, gets past McEneny(#2) and beats Kulbakov to make it 7-1
• GOAL – SYRACUSE – 8-1 Crunch: still shorthanded and off the next faceoff, Taylor Raddysh drives down the wing and feeds Boris Katchouk for the easy tapin goal
• That’s 2 shorthanded goals in 25 seconds for the Crunch…Jesus Christ this not even enjoyable to watch anymore…I don’t think I’m getting anything worthwhile off the Comets…I think everyone is just winding down the clock
• McEneny(#2) steps up to hit Alexander Volkov but it’s for naught as the Crunch still enter the zone and get a shot off that Kulbakov ACTUALLY saves
• Lind(#13) with a nice move to give himself a breakaway…but it doesn’t matter cause its 8-1 with 4:20 left
• GOAL – SYRACUSE – 9-1 Crunch: Kulbakov completely screened in front doesn’t see a long wrist shot from Cal Foote and the Crunch lead extends to 8….the most dangerous lead in hockey
• it’d be fucking hilarious if Cull pulled Kulbakov to give the Comets the man advantage just for shits and gigs
• GOAL – SYRACUSE – 10-1 Crunch: Troy Bourke sends it to Dennis Yan who goes blocker side on Kulbakov to extend the lead to 9…arguably THE worst lead to have in hockey.

 

Final Score: 10-1 Syracuse Crunch

 

Scoresheet

 

Period	Team	Goalscorer	Primary assist	helper	type
1st	Syracuse	Nolan Valleau	Taylor Raddysh	Boris Katchouk	5v5
1st	Syracuse	Carter Verheaghe	Taylor Raddysh	Gabriel Dumont	5v5
1st	Syracuse	Cal Foote	Boris Katchouk	Taylor Raddysh	PPG
2nd	Syracuse	Troy Bourke	Olivier Archambault	Dennis Yan	5v5
2nd	Syracuse	Carter Verhaeghe	—	—	5v5
2nd	Utica	Vincent Arseneau	Cam Darcy	Dylan Blujus	5v5
2nd	Syracuse	Cory Conacher	Gabriel Dumont	Taylor Raddysh	SHG
3rd	Syracuse	Gabriel Dumont	Andy Andreoff	Cameron Gaunce	SHG
3rd	Syracuse	Boris Katchouk	Taylor Raddysh	Cal Foote	SHG
3rd	Syracuse	Cal Foote	Ross Colton	Troy Bourke	5v5
3rd	Syracuse	Dennis Yan	Troy Bourke	Alexander Volkov	5v5

 

Takeaways

• absolutely forgettable night of play for the Comets
• the team needs a shooting coach or something, the number of shots that sailed wide of the net was fucking ridiculous. Outshot 41 to 33, but I bet it’d be a bit more even if the Comets could collectively wire a one-timer on the net.
• I’m going to take the blame for tonights huge loss, as I jinxed Kulbakov by hoping his glove side kinks had been worked out. I think 5 of the shots tonight were gloveside, 2 were shots across his crease that he was late getting to, one a screened wrister over his blocker side, and the other 2 were close over his blocker side. So oops..my bad Kuby my bad!
• spectacularly bad night from our forwards…outside of Darcy and Lind, they were all collectively invisible. Dahlen while he had some nice passes, blew a golden opportunity to try and close the gap and whiffed badly…MacEwen was struggling tonight to get anything going with his linemates. MacMaster had a brutal game, bunch of turnovers and bad passes, sailed every shot wide of the goal…not really sure what the team expects from him at this point. Jasek Kero and Boucher collectively couldn’t maintain any possession in the Crunch’ zone long enough to get offense generated. Archibald and Gaunce had many decent drives but looked tired nearly every time. Lind and Arseneau continue to have pretty decent chemistry when paired alongside Cam Darcy.
• The defense tonight was just atrocious though, so many bad pinches, or shots that sailed so far wide of the net only to ricochet around the boards to give the Crunch a breakaway opportunity. Sifers in particular had a rough night, as did Jesse Graham who got outmuscled in a lot of key battles tonight…I like his speed and offensive game, but if you can’t muscle anyone off the puck when that’s how they beat you on every play, it isn’t going to go well…speaking of can’t outmuscle anyone…anyone wondering about Brisebois up with the Canucks should rewatch this game…absolutely invisible offensively and defensively…I call him Breezebois because whenever he goes to hit anybody or outmuscle anybody, it’s like a light breeze…he just has no strength.

 

Comets Three Stars

1. Jagger Dirk and Dylan Blujus for somehow ending the game with a +/- of 0
2. Joe Roberts on the mic for not calling it a night after the second period and going home early
3. Kole Lind for trying even when it was legitimately pointless to spend the effort to try and score

 

What’s Next?

 

Sigh…the Comets are back at it again tomorrow night against the North Divisions’ leader, the Rochester Americans. I’m sure that, coming off 3 straight losses, and a record setting embarrassment against the Crunch tonight, the Comets will surely show some kind of spark or fire in their final game of 2018 to give the home crowd something to be hopeful for in the new year!…lord knows the boys need it.

Fix the powerplay,

and oh yeah

Fuck Messier.

 

As always I Hope you guys enjoyed this edition of the Farmies even though in THIS particular edition there really wasn’t much to admire… but as per usual, any feedback, improvement suggestions, content or highlights you’d like me to focus/pick out during games, let me know and I’ll do my best to provide during the next Farmies!