COMETS BEST CRUNCH IN OVERTIME
Jan 11, 2017Utica, NY – The Utica Comets won a 2-1 overtime thriller over the Syracuse Crunch in game five of the Galaxy Cup Series on Wednesday night at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.
It was a battle of the goaltenders in the first period as both Thatcher Demko and Kristers Gudlevskis made some spectacular saves to keep the game scoreless through the first 20 minutes. Demko stopped all 12 shots he faced, while Gudlevskis made seven saves in the opening frame.
Alexandre Grenier struck first for the Comets five minutes into the second period. Curtis Valk and Darren Archibald registered the assists on Grenier’s 12th of the year. The scoring play also extended Grenier and Valk’s point streak to five games as the Comets took a 1-0 lead into the second intermission.
Mike Halmo tied the game with his 12th of the year seven minutes into the third period. Matt Taormina and Cory Conacher notched the assists on the power play strike. Neither team could find the go-ahead goal in regulation and for the second consecutive game in the season series, the Comets and Crunch would need overtime.
With under two minutes to go in overtime, Darren Archibald fired a low shot past Gudlevskis to give the Comets their third win in four games. Grenier and Demko were credited with the assists on Archibald’s 10th of the year.
Demko stopped 30 of 31 shots to improve his record to 9-8-3. Gudlevskis made 29 saves as his record falls to 5-4-5.
The Comets power play went 0-2, while the penalty kill surrendered one goal in four attempts.
The Comets are back in action Friday night as they take on the Providence Bruins. Puck drops at 7:05 p.m. at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center. The game can be heard on 94.9 KROCK and viewed on AHL Live.
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