Comets Tripped up in 3-On-3 Overtime in Toronto
October 12, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Utica Comets News Release
The Comets let a third period lead slip away in Toronto, as the team lost 3-2 in overtime to the Toronto Marlies Sunday afternoon at the Ricoh Coliseum.
Brandon DeFazio and Dustin Jeffrey netted goals for the Comets, while Joacim Eriksson stopped 25 of the Marlies 28 shots in the loss. Viktor Loov scored twice for the Marlies while Christopher Gibson made 25 saves for the victory.
After a scoreless first period the Marlies kicked off the scoring off of a Comets neutral zone turnover that led to a Marlies short-handed 2-on-1 rush. A give-and-go between Troy Bodie and Greg McKegg ended after Brodie cut across the top of the crease to beat Eriksson on the far side.
Dustin Jeffrey kept his hot start going with his second goal in as many games. From the top of the circle Hunter Shinkaruk found a hard charging Grenier who banged a one-timer on net. Gibson was there for the original save, but Jeffrey was there to bury it into the empty net to tie the game. With the assist on the goal Shinkaruk recorded his first career professional point.
A fortuitous bounce 2:23 into the third period led to the Comets only lead of the night. Handling the puck behind his own net, Marlies' goaltender Gibson was pressured heavily by Brendan Gaunce which created a turnover. The puck found Brandon DeFazio's stick, who beat Gibson back to the front of the net for the Comets second goal of the game.
With 6:20 remaining in the game the Marlies tied it back up at 2. Connor Brown ripped off a blind, spinning pass to the slot from the corner. The puck carammed off Tommernes' skate right to Loov, who beat Eriksson glove side with a wrist shot from the slot hashmarks. Josh Leivo was credited with the secondary assist.
It was a bitter taste, but the Comets got their first taste of the American Hockey League's new overtime rules. Loov struck again to put an end to any thoughts of a shootout. With as much room to maneuver that you could ask for, Loov cut across the top of the slot after he received a pass from McKegg. A quick wrist shot beat Eriksson, and sent the Comets to their first loss of the season.
The Comets power play went 0-for-3 and gave up a short-handed goal on the night. Utica killed all three Marlies power plays, and are now 7-for-7 on the season.
The Comets are back in action Friday night in San Antonio to take on the Rampage at 8pm EST. Last year the Comets went 0-1-0-1 losing in a shootout in San Antonio.
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American Hockey League Stories from October 12, 2014
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