Comets Lose Third Straight, Fall to Adirondack

It was another attempt at a third-period comeback for the Utica Comets on Saturday night as the new AHL team was defeated 3-1 by the Adirondack Phantoms at the Glens Falls Civic Center.

Listen to Don Laible's Comets Report from Saturday Night:  

The Comets were in search of their sixth win in seven tries away from home, but a 2-0 hole midway through the second period proved to be too much for Utica to
overcome.

Darren Archibald was the lone Utica goalscorer, as his unassisted tally in

the second period proved to be all the Comets would muster offensively. Joe
Cannata turned away 26 of 29 shots against as he lost his second start in a row.
The first period saw the Comets go without a shot on goal for the first
11:48 before Kent Huskins finally broke the drought. Cannata turned aside
all four shots he faced, behind a defensive effort that led to the least
amount of shots the Comets have allowed all season during a single period.
Cal O’Reilly had the period’s best chance as he found himself all alone in
front off of a Nicklas Jensen feed, but the veteran center couldn’t beat Cal
Heeter, who finished the game with 18 saves.

The Phantoms opened the scoring just 2:49 into the second as Ben Holmstrom
buried a rebound in front of the Utica net, which sparked a massive influx
of teddy bears onto the ice. Cannata turned aside attempts from both Rob
Bordson and Chris VandeVelde, but the third shot proved to be the charm as
the Adirondack captain put home the game’s first goal.

Kris Newbury doubled the lead almost ten minutes later, as he finished off a
nice feed from Jason Akeson on a 3-on-1 rush.  Newbury’s goal, which came on
the power play, was the product of a nice passing play on an outnumbered
Utica defense.  The goal was Newbury’s fifth of the season and Akeson
extended his team lead in assists, with his 13th helper of the season.

The Comets answered back with less than six minutes to play in the second as
Darren Archibald buried his third goal of the season. Archibald drove to the
net to pick up his own rebound and forced the puck over the goal line to cut
the Phantoms’ lead in half.

Adirondack scored an insurance goal at the 12:03 mark as Akeson poked home a
loose puck in front for his team’s third of the night. Cannata got a piece
of a Brandon Manning point shot, but the Merrimack graduate could not hold
on and Akeson put it home for his second point of the night.

The Comets fell to 6-13-1-1 with the loss.  Utica is next in action next
Friday for Clinton Comets Appreciate Night at The AUD. The Comets will host
the Binghamton Senators as they honor the history of the Comets name. Puck
drop is set for 7:00 p.m.  Utica is also home on Sunday which will serve as the finale' for the WIBX Keeler Toy Drive for Operation Sunshine.  The even is sponsored by the Observer Dispatch, Time Warner Cable, New York Sash and WIBX.