Comets Grounded by Rocket on Road
March 9, 2019 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Utica Comets News Release
Laval, QC - The Utica Comets went back and forth with the Laval Rocket during a spirited affair, but it was Laval who earned a 5-3 victory on Saturday night at Bell Place.
After going nine games without a first period goal, the Comets were able to take advantage of an odd-man rush up the ice and find the back of the net in the opening frame. Brendan Woods raced over the line along the left before setting up Kole Lind, who flung a shot over a sliding Charlie Lindgren.
Michael Leighton, who became the eighth goalie in AHL history to appear in 500 games, made seven stops in the first, and the Comets had a 1-0 advantage after the first period.
Laval evened the score early in the second period and while operating on a power play. Winning a faceoff in the attacking zone, the Rocket established possession and Cale Fleury saw a window for a long range shot that sailed into the net. Continuing to plug away, the Comets re-established their one-goal lead late in the period. Holding the zone, Colton Saucerman dished to Jalen Chatfield, whose tape-to-tape pass to Vincent Arseneau generated an easy tap-in, earning Arseneau his seventh of the season.
Early in the third, the Comets forced a steal in their own end, and a perfectly executed two-on-one yielded another goal. Lukas Jasek swiped the puck free and moved it to Woods, who pinpointed an open corner to deposit a wrist shot into. Utica's two-goal lead lasted for about six minutes before a power play goal from Alex Alain brought the game back to within a goal.
The Rocket took over from there, scoring three more times before the end of the game, including twice in 34 seconds at 16:15 and 16:49, and a Lukas Vejdemo empty-netter at 19:42. The four unanswered goals from Laval smothered Utica in a 5-3 final.
The Comets are back in action Wednesday night when they hit the road to take on the Rochester Americans. Puck drop at Blue Cross Arena is at 7:05 p.m. The game can be heard on 94.9 KROCK and viewed on AHL TV.
American Hockey League Stories from March 9, 2019
- Condors Shred San Jose, 7-1 - Bakersfield Condors
- Offense, Power Play Stall in 3-1 Loss in Manitoba - Rockford IceHogs
- Stars Top Rampage in 6-4 Thriller - Texas Stars
- Moose Earn 3-1 Win against Visiting Rockford - Manitoba Moose
- Admirals Stymied by Griffins - Milwaukee Admirals
- Rocket Score Four Unanswered Goals in the Third to Defeat Comets 5-3 - Laval Rocket
- Wolves Capture First-Place Clash - Chicago Wolves
- Olofsson, Leier Power Amerks to Fifth Straight Road Win - Rochester Americans
- Miletic Caps off Comeback in Penguins' 4-3 Overtime Win - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Gilmour Scores Another OT Winner - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Gilmour's OT Goal Spoils Sellout Pink in the Rink Night for T-Birds - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Barber Scores Twice in Overtime Loss to Bruins - Hershey Bears
- P-Bruins Defeat Bears 4-3 in OT - Providence Bruins
- Penguins Rally Past Crunch, 4-3, in Overtime - Syracuse Crunch
- Amerks Slip by Devils 5-3 - Binghamton Devils
- Comets Grounded by Rocket on Road - Utica Comets
- Devils Sign Nick Sorkin to PTO - Binghamton Devils
- Dallas Stars Sign Center Justin Dowling to Two-Year Contract Extension - Texas Stars
- Wolf Pack Sign Goaltender Adam Huska to ATO - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Colorado Avalanche Reassign Dries to Eagles - Colorado Eagles
- Game #54 Preview: Tucson vs. Ontario - Tucson Roadrunners
- Flames Assign Curtis Lazar to Stockton - Stockton Heat
- Kings Recall Carl Grundstrom from Ontario - Ontario Reign
- Moose Sign Brent Pedersen - Manitoba Moose
- Game Preview: Bears at Bruins, 7:05 p.m. - Hershey Bears
- Shot-Heavy Roadrunners Come up Short against Ontario - Tucson Roadrunners
- Petersen Helps Reign Stay Hot - Ontario Reign
- Heat Romp to 4-1 Win over Bakersfield - Stockton Heat
- Gulls Blanked by Colorado - San Diego Gulls
- Francouz Shines in Eagles 1-0 Blanking of San Diego - Colorado Eagles
- Condors Fall on Road in Stockton - Bakersfield Condors
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
