COMETS STREAK SNAPPED AT EIGHT IN BINGHAMTON
Feb 23, 2019Binghamton, N.Y. – The Utica Comets battled but saw their eight-game point streak come to an end following a 4-1 loss to the Binghamton Devils on Saturday at Floyd L. Maines Veterans Memorial Arena.
The Comets and Devils exchanged chances in the first period, but neither could find the back of the net. Michael Leighton made 11 first-period saves for Utica and Cam Johnson turned in six, as the two teams skated to a scoreless opening 20 minutes of action.
Early in the second period and on their second power play of the game, the Devils earned the first lead of the night after a solid net-front effort by Nick Lappin. A long shot was stopped by Leighton, but Lappin steered the rebound into the net for his 14th of the season and made it 1-0.
Sticking with a play in the attacking zone shortly after, Kyle Thomas allowed Utica to draw even after he earned his first goal of the season. Jaime Sifers fired a right-point wrister that was kicked away and onto the stick of Thomas for the put-back strike. Lappin’s second of the night re-established the Devils’ advantage in the latter stages of the period, as he led his team to a 2-1 lead at the second intermission.
The Comets did all they could to pull back with Binghamton, but the chances yielded no results in the third. The Devils put the game out of reach when Lappin finished his hat trick on a power play at 18:11 and Nathan Bastian found an empty net at 18:38.
The Comets are back in action Wednesday night when they take on the Rochester Americans. Puck drop at the Adirondack Bank Center is at 7 p.m. Fans are encouraged to use the ticket exchange site StubHub!. The game can be heard on 94.9 KROCK and viewed on AHL TV.