Comets Down the Amerks in a Shootout
by Mark Caswell, Jr.
Mar 4, 2015The Utica Comets (33-18-5-1) needed a shoot out on Wednesday night as they defeated the Rochester Americans (24-29-5-1) in a six-round shootout at The Utica Memorial Auditorium for their first shootout-win of the season, which brought an end to their three-game losing streak.
Bobby Sanguinetti (1-0-1) found the night’s game winning goal in the shootout along with the second Comets goal of the game. The Comets most recent additions, Cory Conacher (0-1-1), and Sven Baertschi (0-1-1), both found a point in their first game with the Utica hockey club.
The Comets started off the first period hot and heavy with a multitude of offensive pressure within the first few minutes. The back of the net was eventually found at 10:52 after Alex Friesen made a pass from the corner that met Andrey Pedan just above the slot. Pedan sniped one on Matt Hackett’s blocker side and pinged off both posts before landing in the net for the 1-0 lead.
A two-goal lead was achieved at the end of period after Bobby Sanguinetti was set up at the blue line from a pass along the left boards from the Comets most recent addition, Baertschi. A shot from the blue line snuck past Hackett for a power-play goal that made it 2-0 at 18:41.
Despite having outshot the Americans 12-5 in the second period, Rochester found the only goal of the period at 8:58 to keep the game within one. A modest wrist shot from Mikhail Grigorenko slinked past the glove side of Joacim Eriksson with assists going to William Carrier and Chad Ruhwedel.
The Americans didn’t make the game any easier for the Comets once they found the equalizer halfway into the third stanza. Brodie Reid guided the puck into the net to make it 2-2 after an awkward bounce off the backboards pulled Eriksson out of position.
A slew of overtime drama led to a six-round shootout. Rochester’s Jerome Leduc found the back of the net in the fourth round immediately after Alexandre Grenier deked one past Hackett. Sanguinetti eventually found the game-winner in the sixth round secure the two points and the 3-2 win the Comets had been so desperately craving all game.
It’s off to Hamilton, Ontario as the Comets prepare to face the Bulldogs this Saturday as they begin their five-game road trip.