Comets Shutout Abbotsford

The Utica Comets won their 3rd straight with a 1-0 overtime victory at Abbotsford on Friday. The Comets have improved to 14-20-2-3 with the win.

LISTEN TO DON LAIBLE'S REPORT:

Benn Ferriero’s game winning goal 2:22 into overtime sent the Comets home
victorious. Joacim Eriksson put in a standout performance, as he turned away
all 36 shots he faced. Eriksson currently possesses a shutout streak of
123:18 against the Heat, spanning back to the third period of Utica’s 4-2
win on Dec. 18 at The AUD.

Eriksson stole the show during the first period after he turned aside each
of the 13 shots that came his way. The Utica netminder’s performance
featured a highlight reel glove save on Markus Granlund midway through the
frame to keep things scoreless. Joni Ortio made seven saves for Abbotsford.

The goaltender’s duel continued through the second period as neither team
was able to find the back of the net yet again. Eriksson continued to shine,
as he made 11 more saves for a two-period total of 24. The Galve, Sweden
native found the highlight reel yet again as he dove to his left to rob Sven
Baertchi of an open net with a paddle save. Ortio once again matched his
counterpart with a zero, with nine saves for a total of 16 through two
periods.

Despite the lack of a noteworthy save for Eriksson as there had been in each
of the first two periods, the Swede remained perfect during the third period
with nine saves. Ortio also turned aside nine shots during the final stanza
and for the first time in franchise history, the Utica Comets would head to
overtime without a goal.

Ferriero ended the game as he scored his first overtime goal of the season
to give Utica the 1-0 victory. The winger took the puck off the halfboards
and fired a wristshot past Ortio’s blocker side to end the game. The goal
extended Ferriero’s point streak to seven games, which is tied for the
longest active scoring streak in the AHL.

Utica improved to 2-2 in games decided in overtime this season, with both
victories coming in Abbotsford. Pascal Pelletier scored the franchise’s
inaugural overtime game winner on Nov. 30, to complete a 4-3 victory over
the Heat.

With the win, Eriksson evened his record for the season at 10-10-1-1. The
Utica goaltender has now won two consecutive games and six of his past seven
starts. Eriksson has saves 198 of 209 shots over the seven game span, good
for a .947 save percentage.

The Comets and Heat will face-off in a rematch tomorrow evening. Puck drop
is set for 10:00 p.m. EST.