COMETS STREAK SNAPPED BY CHECKERS IN OVERTIME

Dec 16, 2018

Charlotte, N.C. – The Utica Comets increased their season-long point streak to five games, but fell in overtime to the Charlotte Checkers by a 2-1 margin on Sunday at Bojangles’ Coliseum.

The first period was a defensive display, as neither team found the goal in the opening 20. Thatcher Demko made five saves on five shots faced, and Callum Booth made all three stops required of him as the teams went into the first intermission facing a scoreless tie.

The Comets generated the first goal of the game early in the second period, after Lukas Jasek forced a steal in front of the Checkers’ net and lifted a wrist shot over the stick side of Booth. The goal was Jasek’s seventh of the season and was an unassisted tally. With ten seconds to play in the second period, sustained pressure by Charlotte allowed them to tie, with Morgan Geekie re-directing the tying effort.

Neither team earned a tie-breaker in the third period, setting the tone for an overtime session.

Just 22 seconds into the overtime period, a steal by Aleksi Saarela allowed him space up the left wing, where he uncorked a shot that slipped through the legs of Demko for the game winner.

The Comets are back at it Tuesday night for a rematch with the Checkers. Puck drop at Bojangles Coliseum is at 7 p.m. The game can be heard on 94.9 KROCK and viewed on AHLTV.