COMETS FALL SHORT AGAINST MARLIES
Oct 8, 2017Toronto, Ont. – The Utica Comets were defeated 4-3 by the Toronto Marlies Sunday night at Ricoh Coliseum.
The Comets scored the first goal for the second consecutive game coming off the stick of Carter Bancks four and half minutes into the opening period. Reid Boucher and Nikolay Goldobin picked up the assists. The Marlies answered under a minute later with a power play goal from Kerby Rychel. Andrew Nielsen had the lone assist. Timothy Liljegren gave Toronto their first lead of the game at the 19:33 mark of the first period. Chris Mueller and Colin Greening collected the assists on the power play goal.
Joseph LaBate tied the game up on the power play four minutes into the second period, tipping in a shot from Jordan Subban. Michael Chaput also tallied an assist on the play. Ben Smith regained Toronto’s lead with 10:43 to go in the second period, putting a rebound past Richard Bachman. Justin Holl and Dymtro Timashov were credited with the assists. With one minute remaining in the middle frame, Alexis D’Aoust tied the game at three, firing a shot over the glove of Garret Sparks for his first professional point. Boucher and Richard Bachman tallied the assists on the power play strike.
Andreas Johnsson regained the Marlies’ one-goal lead with 15:43 left in the third period. Smith and Nikita Shoshnikov racked up the assists. A late double-minor high sticking penalty quelled any Comets’ effort to tie the game.
Bachman and Sparks both finished with 30 saves. The Comets went 2-4 on the power play and on the penalty kill allowed two goals in seven attempts.
The Comets return to action Friday night on the road against the Rochester Americans. Puck drop from Blue Cross Arena is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. The game can be heard on 94.9 KROCK and viewed on AHL Live.