Ben Birnell

Borna Rendulic has had some recent success.

And the forward is among the reasons the Utica Comets have gotten hot as they battle for a North Division playoff spot. The success has come at a perfect time, he said.

All year, I was cold and I was like, When am I going to gethot? I have to get hot at some point, Rendulic said. It just happened. I scored a couple goals and I got so much confidence. Every time Im on the ice I feel like I can make a difference.

Utica has won five consecutive games and is 6-0-1-0 in the last seven, which is the second-best streak in the American Hockey League. The Comets are 26-23-7-2 (61 points) as they head into another three-game weekend that begins Friday with a second matchup in less than a week against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers at the Utica Memorial Auditorium. The Comets play Saturday at Lehigh Valley before hosting Binghamton on Sunday.

We just stuck with our system and knew we would turn it around, Rendulic said Thursday. Were doing it right now. Its going good.

Comets coach Travis Green said the teams recent success is a positive.

I think confidence is one thing that goes a long way when you win a couple games, Green said.

Rendulic has contributed, totaling six goals and adding two assists in his last 11 games. Included was a one-timer from the slot that served as a sort of exclamation point in a 3-0 win over Albany last Saturday. That total comes after Rendulic totaled eight points in his first 43 games this season.

Hes played with a few different linemates this season, including veteran Pascal Pelletier, Mike Zalewski and rookie Michael Carcone. Rendulic, who was born in Croatia, has good size at 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, speed and a big shot. His recent success helped him earn a short call up to the Vancouver Canucks.

I feel good on the ice, said Rendulic, who had 16 goals and 22 assists in 68 games with Colorado's affiliate, San Antonio, last season.

Green said he thinks Rendulic who he refers to as a power forward is playing better than he was at the beginning of the season. He said Rendulic was trying to too cute in certain aspects of his game.

I think the details of his game have gotten a lot better, Green said. Now, hes starting to get pucks to the net and hes starting to get rewarded for it.

With 18 regular-season games remaining, the weekend could have a big impact on the North Division standings. Utica trails St. Johns by a point in the standings, but has a better points percentage (.526 to .517) with help from two games in hand. The top five teams are separated by nine points with Syracuse (70 points), Albany (66) and Toronto (65) in the top three spots. The top four teams qualify for the playoffs. Depending on what happens, the gap between the teams could tighten up.

Every game matters, Rendulic said. You have to keep winning because if you lose a couple games, you could be out of the playoffs.

Clark ready to help

Emerson Clark, who the Comets obtained as added forward depth before Wednesdays AHL trade deadline, joined the team ahead of the weekend.

It was nice to get back into it, said Clark, who will wear No. 13.

The 24-year-old Clark said he arrived in Utica late Wednesday after a 12-hour drive from Chicago. Clark, who is 5-foot-10 and 180 pounds, said he heard good things about Utica from former Comets player Alex Friesen. He knows about the teams hardworking style and is excited.

I just want to help the team and bring good energy, said Clark, who also played on the same junior team as Comets forward Cole Cassels.

He described his playing style as gritty, high-energy and physical. He said can mix it up, if it comes to it. This season, he has one AHL fight and seven in the ECHL.

Clark has a pair of goals and assists in 10 games with Chicago this season. In 38 games with ECHL Tulsa, he totaled 15 goals and 158 penalty minutes.

Green said they will try to get a look at him over the weekend.

Im hoping he fits into the style of hockey we play, Green said. Ive heard a lot of good things from our scouts about him. Well see where it goes.

Injury updates

The Comets will be without assistant captain Wacey Hamilton, who Green said is week-to-week. Hamilton, one of the teams best players on the penalty kill, was injured in the second period Sunday.

Jordan Subban, who missed the last two games with an upper-body injury, practiced Thursday without restriction. The Comets top-scoring defenseman (a career-best 14 goals and 30 points) said he feels good. John Negrin, who has missed the last 25 games with an upper-body injury, also skated Thursday and is available, Green said. Those additions give the Comets nine healthy defensemen.

Derek Hulak remains out. Hulak has missed 38 consecutive games with an upper-body injury and is not close to returning.

I hope that he gets back and plays at some point whether it is this year or next year, Green said.

In total, 14 players have combined to miss 187 games this season.

More here:

Rendulic, Comets on a hot streak - Uticaod - Utica Observer Dispatch