COMETS LATE COMEBACK FALLS SHORT IN 3-2 LOSS
Mar 19, 2022Wilkes-Barre, PA – Saturday night the Utica Comets met the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for the second and final time this season. Utica entered the day with the longest active road win streak in the AHL, and led 1-0 early. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton would score three unanswered goals and ultimately win 3-2.
It would take nearly the entire first period before a team would score. Frederik Gauthier created the first goal all himself. He poked the puck free in Utica’s end and collected it in the neutral zone. After beating two defenders, Gauthier would tuck the puck under the crossbar on a breakaway and make it a 1-0 game. Akira Schmid made seven saves in the period as Utica carried the lead into the break.
In the second, Wilkes-Barre Scranton would get two unanswered. First, Sam Poulin redirected a shot by Cam Lee past Schmid to make it 1-1 2:28 into the period. Just three minutes later, Jordy Bellerive would get the go ahead goal. Drew O’Connor battled the puck free in the corner and fired it in front, Bellerive fired a wrist shot and made it 2-1. Wilkes-Barre Scranton would carry that lead into the second intermission.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton added to their lead early in the third. Filip Hallander redirected a shot from Chris Bigras at 4:13 of the period and gave the Penguins a 3-1 lead. Utica had an empty net for the final two minutes, and AJ Greer tipped a puck in front to score a 6-on-5 goal with 7.6 seconds remaining. The Comets would get one more look as time expired, but Penguins goaltender Louis Domingue stood tall and sealed the 3-2 win.
The Comets return home on Monday March 21st at 7 P.M. as they host the Cleveland Monsters. Monday is Pucks and Pups night, where fans can bring their dogs to the game. Details are available at uticacomets.com/dogs and tickets are available at uticacomets.com/tickets.