Comets Rebound for 3-2 Shootout Win at Iowa
February 6, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Utica Comets News Release
The Utica Comets won for the fourth straight time away from home in a truly wild finish, as they defeated the Iowa Wild 3-2 in a shootout at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.
Alex Biega won the game in the ninth round with his first shootout goal this season. Goaltender Joe Cannata put together a career high 43 saves as he earned his fifth victory as a Comet. Nicklas Jensen and Colin Stuart each found the back of the net for Utica, which moved to 17-22-2-4 on the season. Jeremy Welsh and Patrick Mullen also scored in the shootout for the Comets.
The visitors got off to a shaky start as Iowa center Carson McMillan scored his team leading 11th goal of the season to put the Wild ahead by one, 6:17 into the game. McMillan put a backhanded deke through Cannata's legs off of a nice feed from defenseman Jon Landry. Jon Blum also picked up an assist on the play, his 18th of the season.
Utica knotted the score at one as Jensen found the back of the net for the second straight game, with a power-play marker at the 14:44 mark of the first. Jensen buried a nifty feed from Benn Ferriero, who moved to within three of team leader Pascal Pelletier, with his 36th point of the season. Mullen also picked up an assist on the play.
A series of firsts gave Utica its only regulation lead of the evening with just 42 seconds left in the first period. Colin Stuart deflected a shorthanded Jeremy Welsh shot past Iowa netminder Jonas Gustafsson to make it 2-1. The tally was also the first shorthanded goal Utica has scored this season that hasn't come on an empty net. Welsh's assist was his first point in a Comet jersey.
Iowa had a golden opportunity to knot the score at two 4:24 into the second period, as McMillan was awarded a penalty shot after being hooked by Peter Andersson. Cannata was huge with a pad save and Utica remained on top for the time being.
The Wild would tie the game just over 90 seconds later, however, as Zach Phillips scored a power-play goal from the slot. Defenseman Steven Kampfer recorded the primary assist, his eighth of the season, while Landry netted his second point of the night on the play as well.
A back and forth third period did not result in any goals and the Wild would head to overtime for their sixth straight game and fourteenth overall, with the Comets playing bonus hockey for the eleventh time this season. The overtime session saw eight shots fired between the two teams, but neither could break the deadlock.
The Comets took an early lead in the shootout as Jeremy Welsh converted on his first attempt of the season in the opening round. After a Phillips goal in the third round and a Connolly goal in round seven, Patrick Mullen's shot trickled across the line to keep the Comets alive. After the two team's traded misses, Biega ended the game in the ninth round as he snapped a shot past Curry to secure the two points.
The Comets continue their road swing when the visit Milwaukee on Friday evening to face off with the Admirals. Puck drop is slated for 8:00 p.m. from the BMO Harris Bradley Center.
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American Hockey League Stories from February 6, 2014
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- Bouchard Traded to Blackhawks - Bridgeport Islanders
- Monarchs Game to be Aired on SiriusXM NHL Network Radio - Manchester Monarchs
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- Dallas Stars Reassign Dustin Jeffrey to Texas Stars - Texas Stars
- Penguins Acquire Forward Spencer Machacek from Columbus - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Blue Jackets Acquire Paul Thompson, Trade Spencer Machacek - Springfield Falcons
- Heat Game to Air on SiriusXM NHL Network Radio - Abbotsford Heat
- Jeff Hoggan Calder Cup Figurine Giveaway Slated for Valentine's Weekend - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Canadiens Acquire Czarnik from Kings for Quailer - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Falcons to Hold Online Auction for Select 20th Anniversary Jerseys - Springfield Falcons
- Admirals Recall Crowder from Cincinnati - Milwaukee Admirals
- Comets Corner with Jeremy Welsh - Utica Comets
- Minnesota Assigns Veilleux, Recalls Gustafsson - Iowa Wild
- Saturday's Hershey Bears Game to be Televised - Hershey Bears
- Tom Caron Selected as 2014 Portland Pirates Hall of Fame Inductee - Portland Pirates
- Andrey Pedan Reassigned to Stockton - Bridgeport Islanders
- Schultz Returns to Manchester - Manchester Monarchs
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- Visit from Spider-Man Highlights Amerks' Annual Kids Day Game February 16 - Rochester Americans
- Capitals Recall Defensemen Julien Brouillette and Patrick Wey from Hershey - Hershey Bears
- Comets Rebound for 3-2 Shootout Win at Iowa - Utica Comets
- Heat Defeat Checkers 4-3 - Abbotsford Heat
- Checkers Come up Empty in Abbotsford - Charlotte Checkers
- Admirals Tame Bulldogs 4-2 - Milwaukee Admirals
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