Comets Escape Rochester with 4-3 Shootout Victory
December 9, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Utica Comets News Release
ROCHESTER, N.Y. - The Utica Comets and Rochester Americans needed overtime and then some, to settle Wednesday night's contest at the Blue Cross Arena. After scoring in their two shootout attempts, and denying the Amerks in both of theirs, the Comets took home a 4-3 shootout victory.
Brendan Gaunce (0-2-2), and Andrey Pedan (1-1-2) enjoyed multi-point games for the boys in blue. Linden Vey (1-0-1), and Alex Friesen (1-0-1) tallied goals in regulation for the Comets, while Joe Cannata made 31 saves in the victory.
The Comets got the scoring going early just minutes into the game, and 15 seconds into their first power play of the evening. With the power play unit perfectly deployed in their umbrella formation, Taylor Fedun hammered a slap shot from a step inside the blue. Andrey Makarov made the save, but could not collect the rebound before Nicklas Jensen could tip it over to Brendan Gaunce, stationed to Makarov's left. Gaunce one-touched a pass across the crease to Vey who tapped it in before Makarov could reposition himself.
The Amerks were able to return the favor with a power-play goal of their own just 1:01 into the second when Comets' defenseman John Negrin errantly deflected a Matt Donovan shot on goal up and over his own goaltender. Former Comet Bobby Sanguinetti assisted on the tally.
Just three minutes later the Comet penalty-killing unit let them down for a second time. After Cannata turned aside a Chad Ruhwedel blast from the point, Dan Catenacci banged a rebound over the shoulder of the Comets goaltender for the 2-1 lead.
Pedan was able to make-up for his four minute double minor that kick-started the Amerks second period scoring frenzy at the midway point of the game. From up the half wall, Pedan let loose a rocket of a shot that beat Makarov to the short side. Taylor Fedun picked up an assist on the play.
The 2-2 score on the scoreboard would ultimately be short-lived. Evan Rodrigues walked the puck into the slot and ripped a wrist shot that went bar down on Cannata to reestablish the Amerks one-goal lead.
After killing four straight minutes down two men, and another minute and a half down one player, the Comets were able to tie the game back up. A fast break three-on-two started with a neutral zone turnover forced by Brendan Gaunce. After he gained entry to the Amerks zone, Gaunce pulled up and fed Pedan as he streaked down the slot. Pedan redirected the pass onto Makarov who denied the original shot before Friesen quickly buried the rebound into the net.
After a scoreless third period, and a thrilling end-to-end overtime, the Comets scored twice in the shootout, courtesy of Linden Vey and Nicklas Jensen, to cap off the big victory.
With the win, the Comets improved to 11-9-2-1 record. The Amerks's record fell to 10-11-1-1 in the loss. The Comets fired 40 shots on goal, to the Crunch's 34.
The Comets return home to kick off a home-and-home series against the American Hockey League's best team thus far, the Toronto Marlies. The sold out game starts at 7pm, and will be the 27th consecutive sold out game at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.
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