UTICA — For Evan McEneny, confidence is key.

In his first full season with the Utica Comets, the 23-year-old defenseman has gained more belief in his game. It is beginning to show more in both ends of the ice.

“My confidence has gotten a lot higher,” the soft-spoken McEneny said Thursday. “Playing in every game on a consistent basis has helped me a lot.”

For the 6-foot-3, 213-pound two-way defenseman, there’s always more to learn. Defense comes first, he said.

“You always want to be on an edge. There’s always things I can be learning. I learn stuff every day in practice,” said McEneny, who noted that 36 games with ECHL Kalamazoo last season were also helpful. “I wouldn’t say I’m comfortable, but I’m more relaxed and able to play my game. I’m not nervous when I go out on the ice as much. Playing with confidence is a big thing for me. When I play with confidence, I find I have a better game.”

He’s been defensive partners with Ashton Sautner for much of the season. While he said he’s been helped by the second-year defenseman, McEneny said he’s also learning from the team’s other defensemen by watching.

Comets coach Travis Green likes what he’s seen from the 23-year-old, who appeared in three regular-season games with Utica before this season. McEneny has played on the power play, which is well-deserved, Green said.

“He’s a guy that has improved a lot over the season,” Green said. “He’s learned how to be a good pro. There are not a lot of nights where he doesn’t play a pretty solid game. That’s part of his preparation and part of learning how to be a pro and being ready to play every night.”

Over the last 10 games, McEneny has recently found his way onto the score sheet. In that span, he’s totaled four goals and added five assists. Perhaps his biggest goal came Jan. 28 against Syracuse when his low-shot from just inside the blue line tied the game in the second period. The Comets ultimately fell 3-2 in a shootout.

“It is nice to produce, but at the same time I think I’m playing well at both ends of the ice,” said McEneny, who has a plus-7 rating in the 10-game span. “I feel that my skating is improving and helping me with my overall game.”

Gaunce ready

Brendan Gaunce wants to help.

The 22-year-old forward is back in Utica after playing 47 games with the parent Vancouver Canucks this season. With the Canucks healthier, Gaunce was assigned because he didn’t need to clear waivers, making the move the easier.

“It is good to see guys I’ve played with and had some success with,” Gaunce said Thursday.

He was in the lineup in Tuesday's loss to Toronto, playing with Pascal Pelletier and Jake Virtanen.

Gaunce had a quick answer when asked what he wanted to improve.

“Maybe score a goal. That’d be nice,” he said with a smile. “Everything I did last year is … what I want to do again.”

Green said Gaunce will play a role similar to last season, when he totaled 17 goals and 38 points in 46 games. He’ll add a boost to the team’s 19th-ranked power-play unit, which has scored in each of the last four games.

“We’ll treat him like everyone else and get him up and running,” said Green, who noted Gaunce will play more minutes with the Comets. “We’ll push him to be better than he was last year.”

Gaunce had five assists while playing on the Canucks’ fourth line. Green said Gaunce needs to continue to improve to return to the NHL full-time.

“For me, to just get back the confidence in the offense zone and making plays and being confident in myself is something I’m trying to do,” Gaunce said.

Three-in-three on tap

The Comets (18-19-6-2, 44 points) kick off a three-games-in-three-days stretch Friday when they finish a home-and-home series against Toronto at the Aud. The fifth-place Comets and Marlies (22-21-2-1) are separated by three points in the standings. The Comets and Marlies also meet Wednesday in Utica.

“They’re all important games,” said Green, who noted the Comets have played well during a recent 0-3-1-1 stretch. “Obviously, teams closer to you in the standings mean a lot.”

The Comets travel to Springfield on Saturday and then return to the Aud to host North Division-leading Syracuse at 5 p.m. Sunday. Including Tuesday’s game, the Comets will play 11 games in a 19-day stretch this month. The schedule features a mix of North and Atlantic division opponents.

“It’s part of the schedule," Green said of the stretch. “There’s no sense in thinking about it too much.”

Injury updates

One player who has missed an extended period due to injury was on the ice Thursday.

Joseph LaBate, who hasn’t played since Dec. 31 because of an upper-body injury, practiced in a red no-contact jersey and appeared to be skating fine.

The 23-year-old forward has been limited to 19 games in a Comets uniform this season. He also made his National Hockey League debut with the Canucks in November.

“He is close” to a return, said Green, who acknowledged it was good to see LaBate skating again.

Forward Derek Hulak (out since Dec. 3) and defenseman John Negrin (out since Jan. 7) both remain week-to-week with upper-body injuries.