Big win before the start of playoffs ...

Comets 3 - Watchung Hills 2

As a last minute addition to the schedule, the Comets would be facing Watchung Hills. Watchung Hills plays in a very competitive division, and their record can be a little misleading. Even though they do not have a lot of wins, they are a very solid team. This was going to be a good game to get the Comets up to speed for the playoffs.

The Comets jumped onto the score board first with 2 very important goals. The first goal gave an assist to Jack Marut, which pushed him to pass Steve Celentano's record for most points scored by a Hackensack player. The second goal was scored by Austin Holmes. His first of the season! Congrats to both players.

It seamed that the Comets were in good control of the game, but then some sloppy plays let Watchung Hills back into the game to tie it up 2-2. Hopefully the Comets have learned their lesson, to not let this happen again.

The game was tied up to the end of the 3rd period, when Matt Carroll scored with less than a minute left, to give them the lead and eventually the win. Next stop, the playoffs at the Ice Vault!

This is a tough one ...

Comets 3 - Paramus 6

Well ... what can you say? I think coming of that very well played loss to Howell, everyone, coaches, players and parents, were expecting a great game from the Comets last night. Well, we got 2 periods worth. And even that was a bit of a stretch. The previous night the Comets had definitely played up a level, skating toe to toe with Howell, one of NJ's top ranked teams. They may have lost by one goal, but they played with tremendous heart. Everyone felt that.

So as they went into the game against Paramus, the same level was expected. Instead it seemed that the Comets dropped down a few levels, and just could not keep up with Paramus. They managed to hold on to a 1 goal lead going into the 3rd period, but even that was a little shaky. With all the pressure, the Comets should have been able to really pull away. Instead, they gave Paramus the feeling they were still in the game. And at the start of the 3rd period, it was Paramus that would lead the charge. Capitalizing on Comets mistakes, Paramus managed to score 4 unanswered goals in a very short span, to pull ahead 6 to 3.

Even with the Comets calling a time out to try to settle things down, it was obvious to everyone that the Comets would just not come back. Now that the Comets know what it feels like to have such a disappointing loss, we can only hope that they will use this to fuel their fire to not let this happen again. They will soon be heading into the league playoffs, and then on to the State playoffs. Lets hope they can shake the cobwebs, and play the kind of hockey we all know they can play! Good luck team, as you head into the playoffs!

Well, after that

Senior Night ... and the best loss all season!

Comets 4 - Howell 5

It was Senior Night for the Comets last night at the Ice House, and it turned out to be a heck of a night! The game opened with a short ceremony that was put together by Mr. Holmes, with the announcing done by Mr. Regan. The ceremony may have been short, but I know that all of the parents and players appreciated the effort to make the night special. Most of the seniors have played together off and on for the last 8 or 9 years! It will be hard to see them move on.

But on to the game. The Comets would be playing the highly ranked Howell team. Everyone, fans and players alike, knew the Comets were the underdogs going in., and they would have to really elevate their game! The game started with Howell controlling the majority of the play and jumping out to a 3-0 lead by the end of the first period. The Comets were caught flat and on their heals. It looked as if it was going to be a long night! But the Comets came back in the second period turning away everything Howell threw at the net, and even putting in two goals, the last goal coming in the last minutes of the period. The Comets would go into the break only down by one goal! This was going to be a game!

Howell came out strong in the third, controlling the play again, but the Comets never gave up. Both teams traded goals, but it would be Howell that would finish ahead by one goal, 5 to 4. As far as I could tell, this was the best loss the Comets have had since Westfield in last year's States. They may have been down in this game 3-0, but they never gave up. They even outscored Howell in the last 2 periods 4-2! Now the Comets just need to bring this intensity tonight against Paramus, and then into the playoffs and States!

New Link Added ... NJ Power Ranking

I'm not sure if many of you know about a website called NJ Power Ranking. It does just it says. It ranks all the schools in NJ. It also has filters so you can just view the Public A schools (our division) or all the schools. It gives an estimated preview of how the ranking will be as we head towards States.

I've added the link to the website, www.njpowerranking.com to the right side under the title of "Useful Links".

A solid performance from the team!

Comets 3 - Middletown North 0

Well that was a much stronger showing than Sunday night. Coming off the week tie against Wayne Hills, the Comets really needed to pull out all the stops to get back on the right track, and they did. The entire performance from the forwards, to the defense, including the goaltending, was much more solid than it has been in the last couple of games! Penalties were also less than the last few games. The overall focus was much better and the results showed!

This is also the teams 3rd shut out of the season! A nice way to rebound from that tie. Now the comets will have to try to keep that momentum through to Friday, when they face the Howel team from the top of the tough Shore B division!