AHL Utica Comets

Shinkaruk's Tear Continues

November 7, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Utica Comets News Release


UTICA, N.Y. - The Utica Comets successfully captured five out of a possible six points this week with a convincing 5-1 win over the Providence Bruins at the Utica Memorial Auditorium on Saturday night. Hunter Shinkaruk led the way with his second hat trick of the season.

Shinkaruk (3-0-3), Brendan Gaunce (1-2-3), and Michael Zalewski (1-0-1) all found goals for the home team, while Jacob Markstrom completed his two-game conditioning assignment with a 20-save win.

The Bruins jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead 1:49 into the first period when Colton Hargrove slipped a wrist shot past Jacob Markstrom from the slot. Assisting on the goal were Ben Youds and Rob Bordson.

The Comets tied the score 1-1 at the 11:30 mark of the first period when Shinkaruk scored his first of the game on the power play to tie the score at 1. Shinkaruk was perfectly set up when Gaunce put a pass right in front of the net for Shinkaruk to finish off. Linden Vey was also credited with an assist on the goal.

Shinkaruk scored again just 2:42 later when he fired a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, to give the Comets a 2-1 lead.

At the 15:37 mark of the first period, Gaunce forced a turnover before he skillfully weaved through a couple of Bruins defenders and wristed a shot past the goalkeeper to put the Comets ahead 3-1.

It was looking like it would be a scoreless second period until the Comets struck again 17:53 into the second. Gaunce circled around the back of the net, sent a pass in front of the net, and Zalewski finished it off for his second goal of the season to give the Comets a 4-1 lead.

Shinkaruk finished off the hat trick when a shot deflected off the goalkeeper to Alexandre Grenier, who then sent a pass across across the crease to Shinkaruk in front of the net, who finished it off for his third goal of the game and ninth of the season. Vey picked up his second assist of the night on the goal.

The Comets finished with 23 shots on goal, while Providence finished with 21 shots. The Comets power play converted on two of its three opportunities, and the penalty-killing unit killed off their lone penalty late in the third.

With the win, the Comets improve to 5-4-1-1 on the season, while the loss drops the Bruins to 3-5-3-0 this season.

The Comets next game will be on the road, as they travel to Springfield, MA on Friday for a matchup with the Phoenix Coyotes AHL affiliate, Springfield Falcons. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m.

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American Hockey League Stories from November 7, 2015


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