Comets Win Streak Snapped

The Comets fell to the Abbotsford Heat 3-1 Friday night,
for the first time at the Abbotsford Sports and Entertainment Center. With
the victory, the Heat snapped Utica’s four-game winning streak, and dropped
the Comets record to 26-27-3-4.

Alex Grenier scored for the Comets, while Pascal Pelletier and Cal O’Reilly
each picked up an assist. Goaltender Joacim Eriksson turned aside 33 of the
35 shots he faced.

12:25 into the game the Heat opened the game’s scoring. On the power play,
after turning away two short-handed Comets chances, the Heat settled into
the offensive zone. Reinhart, from behind Eriksson’s net, centered the puck
to the slot to an awaiting Josh Joorish, who netted his 10th goal of the
season. Lafranchise picked up the secondary assist on the goal.

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The one-goal lead would stand until the 19:49 mark of the second period.
Eriksson stopped Locke’s blast from the point, and then stonewalled Smith’s
backhanded shot on the rebound. The rebound shot, from just below the
faceoff circle, skittered to the far faceoff dot to an unmarked Connolly who
buried the puck into a gaping net.

On their sixth power play chance of the evening it would be Grenier who
finally get the Comets on the board. Pascal Pelletier found Grenier all
alone on the backdoor. Roy was there for Grenier’s first shot, and then
turned away the second. The third rebound bounced over his shoulder, where
Ben Street accidently swatted the puck into his own net as he tried to clear
it from the crease. Cal O’Reilly picked up the secondary assist.

Derek Smith added an empty net goal with 28 seconds left to seal the victory
for the Heat.

The Comets do not have to wait long for retribution, as these two teams
clash again Saturday night in Abbotsford. Puck drop is set for 10pm EST. The
Comets return home the following week with a game on Friday, vs. Adirondack,
and another Sunday afternoon against the Milwaukee Admirals. Both of those
games at The AUD are set for 7pm puck drops.