ROCHESTER, N.Y. – After winning three straight games, the Utica Comets were cooled off to the tune of 3-1 by the Rochester Americans Friday night at the Blue Cross Arena in downtown Rochester. It was the just the second time this season, and the first since the American Hockey League’s opening night, that the Amerks defeated the Comets.
Chris Higgins (1-0-1) and Andrey Pedan (0-1-1) accounted for all the Comets points, while Richard Bachman made 27 saves in the loss.
The Amerks new guys once again wasted no time making a mark on the game. After scoring twice in his Amerks debut last week, Eric O’Dell staked his new team to a 1-0 lead when he flipped a rebound over the glove of Bachman, from his knees, 7:55 into the game. Cole Schneider, also acquired in the same Senators-Sabres trade, picked up an assist on the goal after grabbing three assists in his Amerks debut.
The Amerks struck again and doubled their lead just 55 seconds into the second period when Justin Bailey converted on a perfect back door feed from William Carrier.
The Comets clawed to within one in the third period when Chris Higgins redirected an Andrey Pedan shot past Ullmark at the 5:03 mark of the third period.
The Amerks added an empty-net goal with 30 seconds left to account for the final tally.
With the win, the Comets record dropped to 30-20-5-3.
The Comets three-in-three weekend continues in Albany tomorrow night at 5pm. The Albany Devils are just eight points up on the Comets for second place in the North Division.
