Comets Beat Senators 3-2

It was the first time in franchise history that the Utica Comets
completed a third period come from behind victory, as they defeated the
Binghamton Senators 3-2.

LISTEN TO DON'S LAIBLE'S REPORT:  

Nicklas Jensen and Frank Corrado scored third period goals and captain Colin
Stuart also scored for the Comets, who moved to 22-23-3-4 as they earned
their fourth consecutive victory.  Center Cal O’Reilly collected two assists
for the second consecutive evening and goaltender Joacim Eriksson turned
aside 27 of 29 shots for the victory.

The Senators struck first, as they opened the scoring in this one, with Mike
Hoffman putting a shot through Eriksson from the right hand circle.
Binghamton’s leading scorer took a feed from defenseman Chris Wideman and
netted a goal for the second straight game against Utica.

The Comets knotted the scoring at the 9:18 mark of the second period, as
Stuart beat Andrew Hammond for the first time tonight.  The Utica captain
was set up in the slot and took a feed from Jeremy Welsh, which he potted
into the top corner of the net.  The goal was the fifth of the season for
Stuart in three games against Binghamton and his twelfth overall. Winger
Alex Mallet also picked up an assist on the play with the secondary marker,
his first point since Jan. 4 in Toronto.

Binghamton extended its lead to two goals as Hoffman recorded his second of
the evening, a shot that deflected off of Corrado.  Hoffman’s goal was his
30th marker of the season, which ties him with Colton Sceviour of the Texas
Stars for the AHL lead. Mark Stone picked up the lone assist on the play,
which extended his point streak to 10 games.

Utica equalized early in the third period, as Jensen knocked a loose puck
past Hammond just 19 seconds into the final stanza.  The goal, scored on the
power-play, was Jensen’s team high sixth of the season with the man
advantage and his eighth during the month of February.  Defenseman Patrick
Mullen and O’Reilly collected assists on the play, the fifth straight game
for O’Reilly with a point.

The Comets completed the comeback at the 6:31 mark of the third as Corrado
scored his fifth goal of the season on a shot from the right point.  The
goal, the second game-winner of Corrado’s AHL career, came off of a feed
from O’Reilly, who picked up his 20th assist as a Comet.

Eriksson collected his 16th win of the season and his second over
Binghamton.  The Galve, Sweden native has now stopped 69 of 73 against the
Senators this season.  With the victory, the Comets jumped both Hamilton and
Charlotte in the Western Conference standings as they moved into 12th place.
Utica also moved to within just six points of eighth place Milwaukee for the
final playoff spot.

Utica is back in action tomorrow afternoon, as they complete their three
games in as many days stretch with a matinee at the Times Union Center in
Albany. Puck drop on the final meeting of the season between the Comets and
Devils is set for 3:00 p.m.