COMETS HOST PENGUINS TO HONOR ARCHIE BURTON

Jan 7, 2022

Last Time on the Ice: A Wednesday afternoon matchup between the Toronto Marlies and the Utica Comets started off slow before both teams exploded offensively. Toronto entered the third period with a 4-3 lead, and ultimately won 6-4.

In the first, both teams exchanged early chances but fell flat for the first 10 minutes. At 14:34 of the period, Alex Steeves struck first. Mareks Mitens made a save on a wrist shot from the point, but Steeves was there to bang home the rebound and make it 1-0.

Utica would answer with less than two minutes left in the period. Reilly Walsh had a shot blocked, but found the puck and slid it across to Fabian Zetterlund who tallied his 9th of the year and tied the game at one heading into the break.

The second period featured five combined goals. Utica started the scoring with a powerplay tally from Chase Deleo and to give the Comets their first lead of the day. Matthew Hellickson answered for the Marlies just 43 seconds later on a shot through traffic that bounced through Mitens.

Toronto would score again on a hard wrist shot from Brett Seney that beat Mitens over the shoulder and made it 3-2. The Comets answered at 7:25 of the second, as Colton White’s backhand pass from below the goal line hit a Toronto skate in front and got through Eric Kallgren. Utica had tied the game at three.

Toronto took the lead before the period ended thanks to Joey Anderson. He ripped a pass from Brett Seney to the top right corner and gave Toronto a 4-3 lead at the second intermission.

In the third, Toronto would gain a two-goal lead off Mikhail Abramov’s third of the season. Brian Flynn answered at 10:19 of the third with another pass from below the goal line that found its way into the Toronto goal off a skate. Utica trailed by just one.

The Comets had a powerplay and an empty net late in the third, but Toronto sealed the win with Joey Anderson’s empty netter. Utica lost their second straight game for just the second time this season.

Utica did not take any penalties in the game and was one for three on their own powerplay chances. The Comets also outshot the Marlies 36-31.

Comets Leading Scorers: The team’s leading scorer heading into the weekend is Chase DeLeo who has registered six goals and 14 assists for 20 points in 15 games played. Following him is defenseman Reilly Walsh who leads all d-men in scoring with four goals and 14 assists for 18 points in 23 games. Fabian Zetterlund is in third with nine goals and 8 assists for 17 points in 18 games played. Tyler Wotherspood leads the team in plus/minus with a +17.

Wilkes Barre Scranton Scorers: Leading the Penguins this season is Finnish forward Valtteri Puustinen with seven goals and nine assists for 16 points in 24 games. Recently traded Alex Nylander hops into the Penguins lineup with 23 games played for Rockford with eight goals and 4 assists for 12 points. He is tied for second alongside Jordy Bellerive who has three goals and nine assists for 12 points in 22 games. Leading defenseman is Pierre-Olivier Joseph who has three goals and eight assists for 11 points in 16 games played.