Comets Upended in Heartbreaking Shootout Loss
December 10, 2016 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Utica Comets News Release
Syracuse, NY - The Utica Comets lost in the team's first shootout of the season by a score of 4-3 to the Syracuse Crunch on Saturday night.
The Comets began the scoring on the power play at 7:45 of the first frame. Pascal Pelletier scored his first of the season by jamming in a loose puck in front of the net. Cody Kunyk and Jordan Subban assisted on the goal. At 13:20 of the stanza, Henri Ikonen tied the game by deflecting a Michael Bournival shot for his first of the season. Yanni Gourde collected the secondary assist as the game moved into the second period tied at one.
5:03 into the second period, the Comets converted on another power play. This time it was Jake Virtanen who buried a wrist shot from the slot. His fourth of the season, all in the past five games, was assisted by Chad Billins and Colby Robak. With the helper, Robak moved his assist streak to four games. Just 1:58 later, the Crunch tied the game at two with a slap shot goal from Ben Thomas. Tanner Richard and Brian Hart assisted on the goal to move the game to a 2-2 tie headed into the third.
The third period began with the Crunch killing a penalty that carried over from the second period. 12 seconds into the frame, Matt Taormina fired a slap shot from the point. The puck deflected off Evan McEneny and fell into the net to give the Crunch their first lead of the night. Taormina's eighth of the year was scored shorthanded and assisted by Jake Dotchin and Matthew Peca. With under five minutes to go, Cole Cassels tied the game by finding a loose puck in front of the net. Kunyk and Alexandre Grenier assisted to force overtime. Grenier also extended his assist streak to four games with the secondary assist on the goal.
After three-on-three overtime for five minutes, the game remained deadlocked. Curtis Valk scored the lone Comets goal in the shootout while Cory Conacher and Richard to complete the game.
Michael Garteig made 30 saves and one in the shootout but fell to a record of 0-1-1. Kristers Gudlevskis stopped 31 and two in the shootout to improve his record to 5-3-2. The Comets converted on two power plays on five chances and killed all four penalties. After the Comets allowed three shots in the first period, the game finished at 34 a piece.
The Comets return home to the AUD on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. faceoff against the Albany Devils. The game can be heard live on 94.9 KROCK or viewed on AHL Live.
• Discuss this story on the American Hockey League message board...
American Hockey League Stories from December 10, 2016
- Ontario Reign Topple Charlotte Checkers, 5-2 - Ontario Reign
- Condors Freeze out the Heat, 5-2 - Bakersfield Condors
- Crunch Hold on to Defeat Comets in Shootout, 4-3 - Syracuse Crunch
- Wolves Broadside Admirals 5-2 in Milwaukee - Chicago Wolves
- RECAP: Sundqvist's Four Goals Lead Penguins Past Bears - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Comets Upended in Heartbreaking Shootout Loss - Utica Comets
- Game Recap: Sound Tigers 4, Senators 3 (OT) - Bridgeport Islanders
- Stalock Stunts Rampage - Iowa Wild
- WOLF PACK GAME RECAP - Toronto Marlies 5, Hartford Wolf Pack 3 - Hartford Wolf Pack
- RECAP | St. John's Shaded 2-1 by Springfield - St. John's IceCaps
- Devils Lost to Streaking Bruins, 3-1 - Albany Devils
- P-Bruins Win 3-1 to Increase League Leading Point Streak - Providence Bruins
- Korpisalo Stands Tall in Monsters' 2-1 - Cleveland Monsters
- Condors Host Stockton on Pearl Harbor Anniversary Jersey Night at 6 - Bakersfield Condors
- Canucks Recall Demko, Comets Sign Anderson - Utica Comets
- American Hockey League Hall of Famer Bill Dineen Passes Away at 84 - AHL
- Coyotes Recall Dauphin and Deangelo from Tucson - Tucson Roadrunners
- Albany Devils Today / Game Day -- December 10, 2016 - Albany Devils
- Sound Tigers Battle B-Sens, Penguins this Weekend - Bridgeport Islanders
- 'Canes Recall Leighton From Charlotte - Charlotte Checkers
- Ontario Reign Game Preview: Reign Go Retro on 8-Bit Video Game Night - Ontario Reign
- Stars Erupt for 8 Goals to Topple IceHogs - Rockford IceHogs
- Bakersfield Takes Down Charlotte in OT, 3-2 - Bakersfield Condors
- Checkers Erase Early Deficit, Earn Point in Bakersfield - Charlotte Checkers
- Wild Comeback Drops Short; Reign Fall to Roadrunners in OT - 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.
