Adirondack Squeaks By Comets in Final Seconds

The Utica Comets dropped a nail biter on home ice, a 3-2
decision to the Adirondack Phantoms. Despite a 29-23 shots on goal
advantage, the Comets surrendered a late goal to drop their third contest in
a row. With the defeat, Utica fell to 22-26-3-4 on the season.

LISTEN TO COMETS REPORT FROM DON LIABLE: 

David Marshall and Benn Ferriero each scored for the Comets, while netminder
Joacim Eriksson turned aside 20 of the 23 shots he faced. Tye McGinn potted
two goals for Adirondack, who defeated the Comets for the second time this
season.

Adirondack struck first at the 8:13 mark of the opening period as Tye McGinn
buried a rebound past Eriksson.  Following a point shot from Brandon
Manning, McGinn picked up a loose puck in the left hand circle and slotted
it home for his 15th goal of the season.  The assist was Manning’s 16th of
the season, a team high for Phantom blueliners, while defenseman Bruno
Gervais picked up the secondary assist on the play.

The Comets knotted the score nearly five minutes into the second stanza, as
Marshall got his own rebound off of an Adirondack defenseman’s skate and
slotted it past Yann Denis.  The goal was the first of the season from
Marshall and the 17th of his AHL career. Defenseman Patrick Mullen picked up
the lone assist on the play, his 13th helper as a Comet.

Adirondack opened the scoring in the third period just 3:50 in as Rob
Boardson picked up his tenth goal of the season on an unassisted tally.  The
winger picked off an errant pass and fired a wrist shot from the right hand
circle past Eriksson to give Adirondack the lead.

Utica would once again answer back, however, as Ferriero re-directed home a
feed from Cal O’Reilly to electrify the Auditorium and knot the score at
two.  In just his second game back from injury, Ferriero drove hard to the
net where O’Reilly put a saucer pass right on his stick for the tally. The
goal, which was scored on the power play, was a team high 18th of the season
for Ferriero.  Center Pascal Pelletier also picked up an assist, his 33rd.

Despite a solid third period effort, it was not meant to be for the Comets,
with Adirondack finding the game winner just 2:58 from the conclusion of the
contest.  After a turnover in the neutral zone led to a 2-on-1 for the
Phantoms, McGinn put home a pass from VandeVelde, who collected his tenth
assist of 2013-14.  Leading scorer Jason Akeson also picked up a helper on
the play, his 31st of the season.

Utica is back in action on Sunday, when they cross state lines en route to
Connecticut, where they will take on the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.  Sunday
afternoon’s game is a 3:00 p.m. puck drop and is the final time that Utica
and Bridgeport will meet this season. The Comets return home the following
week, for tilts with Oklahoma City on Wednesday and Wilkes/Barre-Scranton on
Friday for Irish Night at The AUD. Both games are set for 7:00 p.m. puck
drops.