The Utica Comets’ solid start to the 2026-27 American Hockey League season includes closing their four-game homestand with wins over North Division rival Rochester and Syracuse over the weekend.
Utica in AHL standings
The Comets improved to 8-2-0-0 overall with the victories.
The team is off to the one of its best starts through 10 games in its 14 seasons. It is the fourth time in team history it has won at least seven of its opening 10 games.
The Comets’ 10 games entering Tuesday’s contest at Wilkes-Scranton/Scranton are the fewest among the league’s 32 teams.
The team’s 16 points put it in third in the North Division behind Toronto (17) and Laval (21), which have both played four more games.
Utica’s .800 points percentage does rank first in the league, ahead of Grand Rapids (.786). The Griffins have also played four more games.
Utica has 62 games remaining.
Tufte goes up
The Comets lost winger Riley Tufte on Monday to a call-up by the New Jersey Devils.
The move was needed because the NHL club will be without winger Anthony Mantha for “some time,” according to New Jersey coach Sheldon Keefe. Mantha was hit in the neck and chin Saturday at the New York Islanders.
Tufte and Mantha ...