Comets Close Weekend with an OT Loss

It was a rough weekend for the Utica Comets at the Aud. The home team came away with just two-points after losing two overtime games, one Friday and one on Sunday.  The Comets lost to Albany, 5-1 on Saturday night.

Sunday's matinee game opened with a a meet and greet with players and fans.  Hundreds  of fans lined up to meet the players before the game with Binghamton.

The Comets and Senators jumped out to a fast-paced first period. The home team started the game buzzing as they peppered Senators’ goalie Matt O’Connor with 18 shots in just the first period.  By comparison, the Comets limited the Senators to 19 shots on goal the entire game.

Joe Cannata came up big early on in the game.  Although he only faced six shots in the first stanza, Cannata was tested with a penalty shot.  Binghamton’s Fredrik Claesson was awarded the penalty shot after he picked up a puck on his way out of the penalty box and was hooked by Comets defenseman Jordan Subban.  Cannata played a big role in the Comets first period lead as he blockered away the point-blank shot by Claesson.

Not long after the penalty shot the Comets jumped out to their first lead of the day on a power-play goal from Joseph LaBate. The shot, taken by Taylor Fedun from the point, was redirected by Alex Friesen and then again by LaBate in front at 4:14 of the 1st.

Binghamton hit the ice hard for the 2nd period as Phil Varone tied the score at 1-1 after he deflected a puck over the shoulder of goaltender Cannata just two minutes into the second.

The Comets were able to capitalize on a 5-on-3 opportunity midway through the 2nd period to regain their one goal lead. Carter Bancks netted his 11th goal of the season off of a rebound from Senators’ goaltender Matt O’Connor. Joseph LaBate nabbed his second point of the game as it was his initial shot from the point that Bancks buried to take the lead.  Ronalds Kenins also collected a point for his assist.

The Senators responded within minutes to tie the game at 2-2 after a bouncing puck was mishandled in the Comets zone.  Senator’s Phil Varone quickly swooped in and wristed it past Cannata for an unassisted goal with 12:14 to play in the 2nd period.

Neither team could score in the third, or the overtime period.

Alex Friesen was able to beat Matt O’Connor, however, the Comets ultimately fell to the Senators as both Phil Varone and Casey Bailey found the back of the net for Binghamton.

The Comets record fell to 31-22-6-5 with the loss.

The Comets play host to Syracuse on Wednesday and Hershey on Friday night. Both games start at 7. With 13 games left in the regular season (8 of those games at the Aud), Utica needs to earn 22-points to clinch a spot in the playoffs.