Laval, Qué. – The Utica Comets fell to the Laval Rocket by a score of 5-4 Wednesday night at Place Bell.
Daniel Carr struck less than five minutes into the game with a power play goal. Peter Holland and Michael McCarron had the assists. Holland extended the lead to 2-0 with 31 seconds remaining in the opening frame. Daniel Audette and Matt Taormina collected the assists on the power play goal.
Carr netted his second goal of the night at the 11:15 mark of the second period. Taormina and Chris Terry were credited with the assists. Michael Chaput got the Comets on the board with 5:08 remaining in the middle frame when he put a loose puck behind Michael McNiven. The goal was unassisted.
Antoine Waked regained Laval’s three-goal lead four minutes into the third period, firing a one-timer past Thatcher Demko. Jakub Jerabek and Taormina tallied the assists. Alexis D’Aoust brought the Comets back to within two halfway through the final period when he finished a nifty passing play from Zack MacEwen. Cole Cassels also picked up an assist on the play.
Demko was sent to the bench and Jordan Boucher scored an empty net goal late in the third. Michael Carcone retaliated with a goal in the last 16 seconds. Reid Boucher followed 10 seconds later with another goal to bring the game to within one, but it was too little, too late.
Demko stopped 20 of 24 shots and his record falls to 4-2-1. McNiven finished with 27 saves to improve his record to 2-1-0. The Comets power play went 0-5, while the penalty kill surrendered two goals in five attempts.
The Comets return to action Friday night as they host the Belleville Senators. Puck drops at 7 p.m. Fans are encouraged to utilize the ticket exchange website, StubHub!. The game can be heard on 94.9 KROCK and viewed on AHL Live.
