Comets Snap Winless Skid with Shootout Win
March 22, 2019 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Utica Comets News Release
Utica, N.Y. - The Utica Comets fought out of a 1-0 deficit to comeback and beat the Laval Rocket 2-1 in a shootout Friday night at the Adirondack Bank Center. Tanner Kero scored the lone regulation goal, while Seamus Malone and Lukas Jasek scored in the shootout to give the Comets the win. Michael Leighton made 13 saves on 14 shots.
Brett Lernout got the scoring starting with a long wrister that found its way past Leighton 3:27 into the first period. Despite three power play opportunities and 12 shots on goal, the Comets were unable to break through Rocket goaltender Connor LaCouvee and trailed 1-0 after the opening 20.
The Comets were gifted two more power play opportunities and outshot the Rocket 14-2 in the middle frame but the score remained 1-0 Laval through two periods.
Kero poked home a loose puck halfway through the third period to tie the game at one. Tom Pyatt and Jalen Chatfield had the assists. The Comets continued to press and held Laval to one shot in the final frame, however neither team could find a go-ahead goal and the game headed to overtime.
The North Division rivals traded chances in overtime but no one could convert and the game would require a shootout.
Malone and Alex Belzile traded goals in the shootout before Jasek scored the winner in the fifth round of the shootout.
The Comets go right back at it tomorrow night against the Syracuse Crunch. Puck drop at the War Memorial Arena is at 7 p.m. The game can be heard on 94.9 KROCK and viewed on AHL TV.
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