ADIRONDACK FLAMES (26-20-4-1) @ UTICA COMETS (32-15-5-1)
Puck Drop: 7:00 p.m. - Utica Memorial Auditorium
LISTEN LIVE: HITS 95.9 & TALK 1450
Tonight's Game: The Adirondack Flames look to defeat the Utica Cometts for the first time this season, as they visit the Utica Memorial Auditorium for their first of two games this weekend.
Last Game: The Adirondack Flames got back on track with a 3-1 victory over the Oklahoma City Barons at the Cox Convention center in Oklahoma City. Michael Ferland, Max Reinhart and Garnet Hathaway found the back of the net for the Flames, who moved to within two points of eight place in the Western Conference with the win. Goaltender Brad Thiessen made 22 saves to earn the victory, his sixth of the season.
Head-To-Head: The Flames have struggled against Utica this season, with the Comets having claimed all nine meetings to date. The two teams will meet just twice more this season after tonight, in Utica on April 10 and in Glens Falls on April 18.
Scouting The Comets: The Comets have been the class of the North Division all season, as they currently lead the division with 70 points, good for second in the Western Conference. Utica has also been hot as of late with seven wins from their last ten games. Forward Dustin Jeffrey has taken over the team lead with 41 points (17-24-41) through 46 games played, while AHL All-Star Cal O'Reilly leads the team with 33 assists, which is tied for fourth in the league. Winger Brandon DeFazio has a team high 18 goals, one ahead of Jeffrey. In net, leading goaltender JAcob Markstrom has been recalled to Vancouver, leading fellow Swede Joacim Eriksson as the lead man in net. Utica's starter a season ago, Eriksson has posted respectable numbers in 2014-15, with 15 victories a 2.57 goals against average and a .909 save percentage.
Flames Quick Hits
The Flames have made several roster moves over the past week, as wingers Michael Ferland and Emile Poirier, along with defenseman Tyler Wotherspoon, have been recalled to Calgary, with forward Taylor Vause returning to Adirondack from Colorado of the ECHL. Vause has collected seven points (3-4-7) over 17 AHL games and 41 points (20-21-41) in 30 ECHL games.
David Wolf has been hot as of late, with his seven game scoring streak ending just last Saturday in Oklahoma City. Wolf, who had amassed goals in five straight games, had 11 points (8-3-11) over his run, which included a hiatus for his NHL debut in Calgary. The winger's five game goal scoring streak is tied for the second longest in the AHL this season.