Eighth Straight Win Vaults Comets to West's Top Spot
April 1, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Utica Comets News Release
Utica Comets vs. Rochester Americans
(Utica Comets, Credit: Lindsay A. Mogle/Utica Comets)
UTICA, N.Y. - The Utica Comets (42-19-6-1) recorded their eighth straight victory with a dominating 5-1 win over the Rochester Americans (27-35-5-1) at The Utica Memorial Auditorium on Wednesday night.
Sven Baertschi (2-0-2) found the back of the net twice for his 13th point in 12 games as a Comets. Ben Hutton (1-0-1) scored his first professional goal in his professional hockey debut, while Hunter Shinkaruk (1-0-1) scored his fifth goal in just as many games to give the Comets the early advantage. Cal O'Reilly (0-1-1) also attributed to tonight's success and extended his point-streak to a career-high 11 games with his 44th assist of the season.
After outshooting the Americans 19-6, the hard work finally paid off at the tail end of the first period. Adam Clendening kept the Comets power play alive as he fed it off to Brendan Gaunce at the corner boards. What followed was a couple of ideal passes that led to Shinkaruk banging it in on the left side for the power-play goal and the 1-0 lead at 17:33. Nicklas Jensen received the secondary assist on the play.
The Comets continued to throw them at the Americans rookie goaltender Anthony Peters immediately into the start of the second stanza. After receiving a pass from Alex Biega, Hutton found his spot just above the slot and snapped one home for his first point in the American Hockey League that gave the Comets their second goal of the night.
Just over two minutes later the Comets found themselves on another power play and Baertschi found his first goal of the game on a one-timer that flew past the glove hand of Peters for their second power-play goal of the game and their third unanswered goal.
Rochester had their turn on the power play with less than 30 seconds left in the period and found a goal directly off the faceoff in the Comets zone. Dan Catenacci was credited with the Americans' only goal of the game as he tipped it through the legs of Joacim Eriksson.
With the start of the third period came a goaltending change as Rochester swapped Peters for untested rookie Sam Marotta.
Naturally, just 20 seconds into the start of the third, the Comets found their fourth of the game after O'Reilly dished a no-look pass to the right dot. Alexandre Grenier received the pass and snapped it to the short side to make it 4-1. Clendening also received an assist on the play.
Marotta continued to stop most of the Comets in his AHL debut, but a one-on-one with Baertschi was too much for the netminder to handle. The Switzerland native deked Marotta out of position and backhanded the puck in for a final score of 5-1. Cory Conacher received an assist as well as Alex Friesen who tallied his second of the game.
While the Comets did their part in trying to clinch a playoff berth Wednesday night, they are awaiting the outcome of two other games in the AHL, which will have the final say in whether or not the Comets finalize their place in the playoffs.
The Comets will be back at it on Saturday as they head to Hamilton for the last time this season for the second to last match-up against their North Division rivals, the Hamilton Bulldogs.
Three Stars: 1. UTI - Sven Baertschi (2 Goals) 2. UTI - Alex Friesen (2 Assists) 3. UTI - Adam Clendening (1 Assist)
Images from this story
 Utica Comets vs. Rochester Americans (Lindsay A. Mogle/Utica Comets) |
 Utica Comets vs. Rochester Americans (Lindsay A. Mogle/Utica Comets) |
• Discuss this story on the American Hockey League message board...
American Hockey League Stories from April 1, 2015
- Stars Offense Blows out Flames in 7-4 Win - Texas Stars
- Griffins' Magic Number at Two After 6-1 Roasting of 'Hogs - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Comets Clinch 2015 Calder Cup Playoff Spot - Utica Comets
- Senators Snatch 3-2 OT Win, Delay Crunch Clinching Playoff Spot - Syracuse Crunch
- Admirals Win 3-2 in OT vs. Lake Erie - Milwaukee Admirals
- Phantoms Stay Undefeated against Norfolk - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Uher, Dumoulin Lead Penguins Past Wolf Pack - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Admirals Drop Fifth Straight to Phantoms, 3-2 - Norfolk Admirals
- Sharks Kick off Road Trip with 6th Straight Win in 3-2 Shootout Victory - Worcester Sharks
- Pack Can't Hold off Pens - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Toronto Marlies Post Game Notes - Toronto Marlies
- Eighth Straight Win Vaults Comets to West's Top Spot - Utica Comets
- Monsters Fall to Admirals 3-2 in OT - Cleveland Monsters
- Albany Devils Winning Streak Ends - Albany Devils
- Sharks Come Back, Defeat Bears in Shootout - Hershey Bears
- Wideman's OT Strike Lifts B-Sens Past Crunch - Binghamton Senators
- Wolves Push Winning Streak to Six - Chicago Wolves
- Mersch Stays Hot in 2-1 Win over Devils - Manchester Monarchs
- Rampage to Host Face off against Kids Cancer Night on Saturday - San Antonio Rampage
- Syracuse Crunch Weekly - Syracuse Crunch
- Wolf Pack Sign Defenseman Brady Skjei to ATO - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Rampage Recall Tony Turgeon from Allen - San Antonio Rampage
- Bulldogs Foundation Donates over $12,000 to Juravinski Cancer Centre - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Florida Panthers Agree to Terms with D Michael Matheson - San Antonio Rampage
- Wolves Playoff Tickets on Sale at 11 a.m. Friday - Chicago Wolves
- Sound Tigers fall on Spring Fun 102 Day - Bridgeport Islanders
- Penguins Reassign Dea to Wheeling - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- B-Sens to Host 1st Annual Career Fair - Binghamton Senators
- Falcons Comeback to Down Sound Tigers, 2-1 - Springfield Falcons
- Agozzino Named CCM/AHL Player of the Month - Cleveland Monsters
- Murray Earns Second Straight CCM/AHL Goaltender of the Month Honors - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Friday Is Deadline for Priority Access for Season Tickets - St. John's IceCaps
- Agozzino, Mersch, Murray Named American Hockey League Award Winners - AHL
- Rattie Recalled from Wolves - Chicago Wolves
- Lightning Sign Matthew Peca to Two-Year Contract - Syracuse Crunch
- Beach and Chelios Head to ECHL - Chicago Wolves
- Predators Reassign Arvidsson to Milwaukee - Milwaukee Admirals
- Checkers, CRVA to Hold Open Skate at Bojangles' Coliseum - Charlotte Checkers
- April Is IceCaps Fan Appreciation Month - St. John's IceCaps
- Admirals to Build New Hockey Arena - Milwaukee Admirals
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.
