Comets Settle for a Point in Shootout Loss
March 20, 2016 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Utica Comets News Release
UTICA, N.Y. - The Utica Comets wrapped up their three-in-three weekend with a 3-2 shootout loss to the Binghamton Senators Sunday afternoon at The AUD. The point knocked Utica's magic number to clinch a playoff spot down to 22 points.
Joseph LaBate (1-1-2) and Carter Bancks (1-0-1) handled the scoring for the Comets, while Joe Cannata made 16 saves in the loss. The Comets fired a season-high 48 shots on goal, matching their total from their Nov. 14 game vs the Syracuse Crunch. The Comets power play clicked twice in seven tries, and the penalty-killing unit had a perfect night killing all three of the Senators power-play opportunities.
The Comets and Senators jumped out to a fast-paced first period. The home team started the game buzzing as they peppered Senators' goalie Matt O'Connor with 18 shots in just the first period. By comparison, the Comets limited the Senators to 19 shots on goal the entire game.
Joe Cannata came up big early on in the game. Although he only faced six shots in the first stanza, Cannata was tested with a penalty shot. Binghamton's Fredrik Claesson was awarded the penalty shot after he picked up a puck on his way out of the penalty box and was hooked by Comets defenseman Jordan Subban. Cannata played a big role in the Comets first period lead as he blockered away the point-blank shot by Claesson.
Not long after the penalty shot the Comets jumped out to their first lead of the day on a power-play goal from Joseph LaBate. The shot, taken by Taylor Fedun from the point, was redirected by Alex Friesen and then again by LaBate in front at 4:14 of the 1st.
Binghamton hit the ice hard for the 2nd period as Phil Varone tied the score at 1-1 after he deflected a puck over the shoulder of goaltender Cannata just two minutes into the second.
The Comets were able to capitalize on a 5-on-3 opportunity midway through the 2nd period to regain their one goal lead. Carter Bancks netted his 11th goal of the season off of a rebound from Senators' goaltender Matt O'Connor. Joseph LaBate nabbed his second point of the game as it was his initial shot from the point that Bancks buried to take the lead. Ronalds Kenins also collected a point for his assist.
The Senators responded within minutes to tie the game at 2-2 after a bouncing puck was mishandled in the Comets zone. Senator's Phil Varone quickly swooped in and wristed it past Cannata for an unassisted goal with 12:14 to play in the 2nd period.
Neither team could score in the third, or the overtime period.
Alex Friesen was able to beat Matt O'Connor, however, the Comets ultimately fell to the Senators as both Phil Varone and Casey Bailey found the back of the net for Binghamton.
The Comets record fell to 31-22-6-5 with the loss.
The Comets can seal the deal and win their third consecutive Galaxy Cup with a win over the Syracuse Crunch on Wednesday evening at The AUD. The Comets are 4-2-0-0 vs their rival to the West this season. Puck drop is scheduled for 3pm.
• Discuss this story on the American Hockey League message board...
American Hockey League Stories from March 20, 2016
- Comeback Effort Falls Just Short in Front of Another PPL Center Sellout - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Griffins' 13-Game Win Streak Snapped in 2-0 Defeat at San Antonio - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Malcolm, Wolf Pack Blank Springfield 3-0 - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Penguins' Comebacks Topple Bears in OT, 6-5 - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Amerks Come up Short in 4-1 Loss to Bruins - Rochester Americans
- Four-Goal Second Period Helps Lift Crunch over IceCaps, 6-2 - Syracuse Crunch
- Checkers Fall to IceHogs in Marathon Shootout - Charlotte Checkers
- Bridgeport wins fifth in a row thanks to third period comeback - Bridgeport Islanders
- Falcons Come up Empty against Wolf Pack - Springfield Falcons
- Rampage Halt Griffins' Win Streak with 2-0 Victory - San Antonio Rampage
- Penguins Come Back to Defeat Bears in Overtime - Hershey Bears
- IceCaps Dumped by Crunch 6-2 - St. John's IceCaps
- P-Bruins Continue Road Trip Roll, Beat Americans 4-1 - Providence Bruins
- Albany Devils Experience Uncharacteristic Loss - Albany Devils
- Admirals Strike Late to Stop Wolves - Chicago Wolves
- Admirals Earn Comeback Win over Chicago - Milwaukee Admirals
- Comets Settle for a Point in Shootout Loss - Utica Comets
- Flames Recall Wotherspoon from Stockton on An Emergency Basis - Stockton Heat
- Toronto Marlies Post Game Notes - Toronto Marlies
- Marlies Clip Monsters, 4-1 - Cleveland Monsters
- B-Sens Make It a Perfect Weekend with Shootout Win in Utica - Binghamton Senators
- IceHogs Three-In-Three Ends Today in Rockford - Rockford IceHogs
- Predators Recall Bourque, Nystrom - Milwaukee Admirals
- Jets Recall De Leo - Manitoba Moose
- Avalanche Recalls Mikko Rantanen, Rampage Recalls Trevor Cheek - San Antonio Rampage
- G Anthony Stolarz Recalled by Flyers, G Martin Ouellette Recalled by Phantoms - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Overtime Woes Continue, Hogs Lose 4-3 - Rockford IceHogs
- Condors Fall in OT in Wild Game with Stockton - Bakersfield Condors
- Third Period Comeback Pushes Heat Past Bako - Stockton Heat
- Griffins Win 13th Straight, Defeat Texas Stars 6-5 in OT Thriller - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Reign Fall to the Gulls, 4-1 - Ontario Reign
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.
