COMETS BEAT PENGUINS IN A SHOOTOUT
Apr 2, 2017Wilkes-Barre, PA – The Utica Comets beat the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in a shootout by a score of 3-2 on Sunday evening at the Mohegan Sun Arena.
Cody Kunyk deflected a Jordan Subban slap shot to give the Comets a 1-0 lead 2:28 into the game. Later in the period, the Comets killed a five-on-three penalty for over a minute and a half to protect the lead into the second period.
Zach Aston-Reese tied the game with a one-timer on the power play at 5:08 of the second period. His third of the year was assisted by Tom Kostopoulos and Derrick Pouliot. At 12:58, the Comets tallied a power play goal to regain the lead. Jordan Subban scored his 16th of the year on a slap shot that was initially saved by Tristan Jarry. The loose puck bounced off a stick and trickled into the back of the net. Thatcher Demko made 25 saves through the first 40 minutes of the game, including 13 in the second stanza.
The Comet held the Penguins until late in the game when a power play was awarded to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. With Jarry pulled for the extra attacker, Oskar Sundqvist scored his 18th of the year with 59 seconds remaining in the game. Again, Kostopoulos and Pouliot assisted. The goal forced an exciting overtime with Demko making four saves to shift the game to a shootout. In the shootout, Curtis Valk scored the lone goal with Demko making stops on all three chances to win the game.
Demko made 43 saves and three in the shootout to improve his record to 21-14-4. Jarry’s record falls to 27-15-2 with 34 saves and one stop in the shootout. The Comets scored once on four power plays and killed four of six penalties.
The Comets return to action on Friday night at The AUD against the Toronto Marlies at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcasted on 94.9 KROCK and can be viewed on AHL Live. For tickets, visit the fan ticket exchange website, StubHub!.
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