COMETS ROLL TO SIXTH STRAIGHT WIN
Mar 10, 2017Utica, NY – The Utica Comets secured the team’s sixth straight win with a 2-1 regulation victory against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Friday night at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.
Thatcher Demko and Jaroslav Halak picked up where they left off from Sunday’s goaltender duel. The two netminders turned aside all scoring chances in the first period. The Comets were denied on two different power play chances and 12 total shots. Demko stopped all seven shots in the frame.
Curtis Valk broke the scoreless tie with 5:08 left in the second period. His 15th of the year was scored on a backhand shot with assists from Jake Virtanen and Cody Kunyk. The goal occurred directly after a fight between Cole Cassels and Kyle Burroughs. Towards the end of the stanza, Borna Rendulic was penalized on a hooking call. The Sound Tigers began to grab momentum but the score remained 1-0 headed into the third period.
Michael Carcone extended the Comets lead with a one-timer goal in front of the net. The goal, scored 6:36 into the third period, was assisted by Pascal Pelletier on a pass from behind the net. Kellen Jones cut the lead to 2-1 with his fourth of the year scored on a wrist shot as soon as he entered the Utica zone. Burroughs and Devon Toews assisted on the goal at 9:40. Halak was pulled for the extra attacker in the closing minutes but the Comets held on to cruise to five straight wins on home ice.
Demko won his six straight game by stopping 23 of 24 shots and improving his record to 15-11-4. Halak lost his third game to the Comets, all of which in regulation. The goaltender stopped 26 of 28 shots to move his record to 15-4-3. The other regulation loss occurred against the Providence Bruins on February 24.
The Comets killed the lone penalty in the game and were scoreless on two power play chances.
The Comets visit the Lehigh Valley Phantoms tomorrow night at 7:05 p.m. The game will be broadcasted live from the PPL Center on 94.9 KROCK and viewed on AHL Live.
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