COMETS WIN IN A SHOOTOUT AGAINST DEVILS
Mar 24, 2017Albany, NY - The Utica Comets continued to overpower the Albany Devils in the season series with a 2-1 win in a shootout on Friday night at the Times Union Center.
The teams skated to a scoreless first period with the Comets outshooting the Devils by a 9-5 margin. Both rookie goaltenders, Mackenzie Blackwood and Thatcher Demko, played a stellar first period.
The game remained tied through 40 minutes with the Devils outshooting the Comets 13-7 in the second period.
4:01 into the third period, Carter Banks was hooked on a breakaway and awarded a penalty shot. The captain scored glove-high on Blackwood for his ninth of the year. With 24.4 seconds left in the game, the Devils converted on a power play with Blackwood pulled for the extra attacker. Jacob MacDonald scored his seventh of the year from Carter Camper and Nick Lappin. This goal forced overtime and eventually a shootout to break the tie. Chad Billins began the shootout with a goal beating Blackwood five-hole. Brian Gibbons and Lappin were unsuccessful in their attempt. After Curtis Valk was denied in his attempt, Darren Archibald scored to win the game. The Comets won six times in the eight games against Albany this season.
Demko stopped 33 shots, including two in the shootout, to improve his record to 19-12-4. Blackwood made 24 saves and one in the shootout and fall to a record of 13-11-4. The Comets power play did not score on five attempts and killed three of four penalties.
The Comets continue the six-game road trip tomorrow night in Syracuse with a 7 p.m. game against the Crunch. The game can be heard live on 94.9 KROCK or viewed on AHL Live.
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