CHECKERS OVERPOWER COMETS
Nov 8, 2017Utica, N.Y. – The Utica Comets fell the to the Charlotte Checkers by a score of 5-2 Wednesday night at the Adirondack Bank Center.
Andrew Miller gave Charlotte an early 1-0 lead, sneaking around the Comets defense and putting a shot behind Richard Bachman. Phil Di Giuseppe was credited with the assist. Nikolay Goldobin tied the game six minutes later, burying a loose puck in front. Carter Bancks and Jaime Sifers tallied the assists on Goldobin’s sixth goal of the year. Valentin Zykov regained the one-goal lead for Charlotte at the 15:43 mark of the first period on the power play. Miller and Lucas Wallmark had the assists. Dennis Robertson made it 3-1 just two minutes later, coming down from the point and firing a shot past Bachman. Warren Foegele and Sergey Tolchinsky had the assists.
Wallmark extended the Checkers’ lead to 4-1 50 seconds into the middle frame with an unassisted goal. Zack MacEwen brought the Comets back to within two, burying his own rebound with 15 seconds left in the second period. Joseph LaBate and Michael Chaput picked up the assists.
The Comets attempted a comeback but were unable to break through Jeremy Smith. Foegele scored an empty-net goal to seal the victory.
Bachman finished with 19 saves. Smith stopped 33 of 35 shots. The Comets’ power play went 0-6, while the penalty kill allowed one goal in three chances.
The Comets are back in action Friday night for a rematch with the Charlotte Checkers on Military Appreciation Night. Puck drops at 7 p.m. Fans are encouraged to utilize the ticket exchange website, StubHub!. The game can be heard on 94.9 KROCK and viewed on AHL Live.