Comets Take Stranglehold on North Division
by Mark Caswell, Jr.
Mar 7, 2015The Comets extended their lead on their closest North Division rival to nine points with a 3-2 victory over the Hamilton Bulldogs at the FirstOntario Centre, in Hamilton, ON on Saturday night.
Sven Baertschi (0-2-2) led the way for the Comets with two points on the night. After being traded to the Comets he has collected three points, all assists, in two games. Cal O’Reilly (1-0-1), Will Acton (1-0-1), and Alex Friesen (1-0-1) scored for the Comets in the win.
The Comets kicked off the game’s scoring 8:22 into the game. Baertschi picked up a rebound after a shot from Alex Biega was turned aside, and connected with O’Reilly who was set-up on the backdoor for O’Reilly’s seventh goal of the season.
Just 18 seconds into the second period the Bulldogs evened the game back up. Eric Tangradi and T.J. Hensick broke in on a two-on-one on Comets defender Peter Andersson. Tangradi slipped the puck over to Hensick who fired the pack past a sprawling Joacim Eriksson.
Just under six minutes later the Bulldogs took their only lead of the night. Sven andrighetto centered a pass to Charles Hudon who one timed a blast from just outside the crease, into the net.
The Comets wrapped up the second period’s scoring at the 11:12 mark. Acton potted his 12th goal of the year after Baertschi centered a pass to him alone in the slot. Brandon DeFazio picked up the secondary assist.
In the third period, Friesen’s goal would stand as the difference maker after he split the Bulldog’s defenders and slipped a shot between Condon’s legs for his seventh goal of the year. Andrey Pedan and Eriksson recorded assists on the play.
It’s off to Toronto, Ontario as the Comets prepare to face the Toronto Marlies in the second game of their five-game road trip.