Comets Strike Twice on PK in Route to 5-3 Win in Rochester
Oct 21, 2026Rochester, NY – The Utica Comets made their first visit of the season to Blue Cross Arena on Wednesday night and bounced back with a 5-3 victory.
The Comets were forced to kill an early penalty after Zach Gallant was called for roughing, but the Comets held a strong Amerks power play at bay. The Comets would later strike when Stefan Noesen rushed into the offensive zone on a 3-on-1 and fed Ben Steeves in the left circle, beating Rochester netminder Matt Villalta glove side to give the Comets the 1-0 lead at 7:38. It was Steeves' second goal of the year and Noesen's first point as a Comet.
After a late first period penalty against Rochester's Zack Hayes for roughing, the Comets started the second period on the power play but were held off the board. The Amerks nearly scored shorthanded, but Utica netminder David Rittich made a dazzling glove save to rob Amerks forward Riley Fiddler-Schultz. The Comets would, however, add to the lead shortly thereafter when Xavier Parent tipped home a centering pass from Gabe Klassen to make it 2-0 at 1:56. Ryan Schmelzer picked up the secondary assist. The Comets would head to the penalty kill after a Josh Filmon tripping minor later in the frame. After Ryan Schmelzer made a great play at his own blue line to tip the puck down the ice, Amerks goaltender Matt Villalta came out of his net to play the puck and passed it off the skate of Amerks forward Jake Richard and into his own net. Schmelzer was credited with the shorthanded goal which came unassisted at 12:32 to make it 3-0, his first of the year. The Comets headed right back to the kill when Jack Malone was called for hooking and they would strike for another shorthanded tally, this time with Marc McLaughlin doing the honors after David Rittich made a beautiful pass to send him in on a breakaway, beating Matt Villalta high glove side for his third goal of the year at 16:11 to make it 4-0. The Amerks would get on the board late in the period when Caleb Jones fired a shot from the left circle which deflected past Rittich and into the net to make it 4-1 at 19:42.
The physicality picked up in the third as the Amerks tried to cut into the deficit. Later in the stanza, they pulled goaltender Matt Villalta for the extra attacker, but Gabe Klassen flipped one from center ice into the empty net to make it 5-1 at 16:56 for his second goal of the year. The Amerks struck back to make it 5-2 at 17:21 after Aidan McDonough blocked a Comets' clear attempt and snapped one high glove side past David Rittich. Rochester would tally once more in the final minute to make it 5-3 when Riley Fiddler-Schultz knocked home a rebound at the top of the crease out of a net mouth scramble at 19:35, but it was too little too late for the Amerks as the Comets got back in the win column to stay undefeated on the road.
The Comets were outshot by the Amerks 26-20, while going 0-for-4 on the power play and 5-for-5 on the penalty kill.
The Comets are back home next Friday, October 30th against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at 7 PM on Frights & Flight Night. For tickets, please visit uticacomets.com/tickets or call 315-790-9070.