Comets Can't Solve Devils in 6-1 Defeat
October 31, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Utica Comets News Release
ALBANY, N.Y. - The Utica Comets fell to 0-7 all-time as a franchise vs. the Albany Devils when they lost by the score of 6-1 Saturday night at the Times Union Center.
Defenseman Taylor Fedun (1-0-1) scored the lone Comets goal, his second goal in as many games. Forward Hunter Shinkaruk (0-1-1) extended his point streak to three games with an assist in the contest. Goaltender Clay Witt, in his first start for the Comets, made 18 saves in the loss.
The game was locked in a scoreless tie until Devils' forward Ben Thomson wristed a shot past Comets' goaltender Clay Witt with just 48 seconds left in the first period. Joseph Blandisi and Matt Lorito recorded assists on the game's first goal.
Less than three minutes later the Devils doubled their lead when Blandisi forced a Comets turnover in their own zone and quickly fed Mike Sislo a pass in the slot. Sislo took two steps before he fired a shot past Witt for his team-leading fourth goal of the year.
The Devils made it 3-0 when they took full advantage of a 5-on-3 power-opportunity. After the team worked the puck around the zone, Lorito let loose a one-time shot from down low that rocketed past Witt's glove for the team's third goal of the game. Marc-Andre Gragnani and Sislo tacked on assists on the goal.
The Comets finally got on the board When Fedun's slapshot on the power play rifled past Yann Danis for his second goal in as many games. Linden Vey and Shinkaruk recorded assists on the goal.
The Devils added to their lead once again with 8:08 left in the third. Off of a 3-on-1 odd-man rush, Thomson put a shot on net that Witt had an answer for. The rebound bounced to Ryan Kujawinski who tapped it into the net before Witt could get back into position.
Sislo added his second goal of the game when he pitchforked a backhanded shot over a sprawled out Witt, on a partial breakaway to extend the Devils' lead to 5-1.
The scoring for the Devils mercifully ended when Blake Coleman chipped in a goal on a breakaway with 2:15 left in the game.
The Comets power play converted once on three opportunities, and the penalty-killing unit killed four of the Devils' five power-play chances.
With the loss, the Comets dropped to 3-4-0-0 on the season. The win improved the Devils record to a 4-3-1-0.
The Comets will cap off their three-in-three weekend tomorrow as they travel to Bridgeport, C.T. to take on the New York Islanders' AHL affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers at the Webster Bank Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
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