Comets Complete Weekend Sweep of Adirondack Flames

The Utica Comets took two more games this weekend from the Adirondack Flames, with a win on Saturday at the Glenn Falls Civic Center.  The 3-2 win was the 9th straight victory over the Flames.  The Comets won Friday night's game 4-2, bringing their season record against the regional rivalry and the division's second place team to 9-0-0-0, with three more times to play.

Mike Zalewski’s (2-0-2), and Carter Bancks (1-0-1) found the back of the net for the Comets. Jacob Markstrom secured his 14th win of the season and his seventh overall against the Flames after stopping 37 of the 39 shots he faced from the Flames offensive efforts.

Just as the puck was dropped at the start of the first period, Comets fans could be heard throughout the Glens Falls Civic Center as they belted the ever so popular, “Let’s Go Comets,” chant. Apparently that was enough to give the Comets the surge of energy they needed because the boys in blue found their first goal within two minutes of the puck being dropped.

The Comets ended up beginning the period shorthanded following a cross checking call on Alex Biega. Fortunately, that didn’t stop Will Acton from setting up Carter Bancks in the slot who ended up burying the puck past a sprawling Joni Ortio for the early 1-0 lead and Bancks’ first shorthanded goal of the season. Kent Huskins was also credited with an assist for his third of the season.

The Flames finally answered back at 13:12 into the second period after a stretch pass to Turner Elson from Mark Cundari. The pass made it all the way to the blue line, which put Elson in good position to beat the defensemen and lay it on Markstrom’s blocker side for the 1-1 equalizer. Tyler Wotherspoon also tallied an assist on the Flames first goal.

Both teams came out fast at the start of the third stanza, and as a result both teams scored within the first two minutes. Emile Poirer snuck past the Comets defensemen at 1:28 to beat Markstrom on the blocker side for the second time in the game and at 1:50 Mike Zalewski beat the Flames defensemen on the other end of the ice to eventually sneak it through Ortio’s pads. Zalewski’s first goal of the game evened the score at 2-2.

As the third period was winding down, it seemed as if the game was headed into extra time. However Zalewski put it to bed with just over two minutes left as he snapped one past Ortio’s leg pad on the far side for his third goal of the season which ended up making the final score 3-2.

The Comets have added another two points to their overall standing (60) which has opened up an eight-point gap between them and their North Division rivals (Adirondack Flames).  Utica and Adirondack will play 3 more times this season, including the final game of the regular season on April 18th.

The Comets are at home on Sunday to host Binghamton with a face-off time of 3 p.m. at the Aud.  They host Rochester at home Wednesday night before playing both games on the road next weekend.