UTICA, N.Y. – The Utica Comets and Travis Green made history with each notching their 100th regular season win with a 1-0 overtime thriller over the Albany Devils on Saturday evening at the Utica Memorial Auditorium. The 100th win came in the franchise’s 191st game, and increases the team’s all-time record to 100-67-15-9.
The Comets finally solved the riddle that was the Albany Devils thanks in part to heavily outshooting them 44-14, including a 17-1 advantage in the first period. Carter Bancks (1-0-1) provided the lone goal for the Comets 3:05 into overtime, while Richard Bachman earned his first shutout as a Comet with 14 saves.
Three minutes into overtime Carter Bancks fought off a Devils defender and roofed a shot short side over the shoulder of Wedgewood to give the Comets the 100th victory.
The Comets rewrote the record book in this one. Their one goal allowed in the first period was the least amount of shots they have allowed in a period. The 1-0 victory was the first game the Comets have won this season when they have scored less than three goals. The Comets, used to doing things the hard way over the past three years, increased their record in one-goal games to 53-27-15-9. The win was the first over the franchise that used to call Utica home in ten tries.
With the shutout and the overtime victory the Comets record improves to 18-15-3-3.
The Comets travel to Toronto to face the Marlies next Saturday, the 23rd. Puck drop is scheduled for 3pm at the Ricoh Coliseum.