Utica, N.Y. – The Utica Comets fell to the Toronto Marlies 5-2 Wednesday night at the Adirondack Bank Center.
Both teams had a plethora of chances in the opening frame with Utica and Toronto combining for 31 shots, but it was ultimately the Marlies that got on the board first with a power play strike with 48 seconds remaining in the period courtesy of Miro Aaltonen. Timothy Liljegren and Mason Marchment had the assists.
Patrick Wiercioch tied the game with a shorthanded goal six minutes into the middle frame. Michael Chaput and Cameron Darcy tallied the assists. Justin Holl regained the lead five minutes later with assists from Ben Smith and Trevor Moore. In the last minute of the period, Dmytro Timashov put Toronto up 3-1, burying a loose puck in front.
Holl struck again seven minutes into the final period. Travis Dermott collected the assist. Chris Mueller put the Marlies up 5-1 halfway through the third period. Timashov was credited with the assist. Reid Boucher brought the Comets to within three, but it was too little, too late. Jalen Chatfield and Zack MacEwen picked up the assists on Boucher’s seventh of the year.
Thatcher Demko stopped 35 of 40 shots and his record falls to 5-5-1. Garret Sparks finished with 28 saves to improve his record to 9-2-0. The Comets power play went 0-5, while the penalty kill allowed one goal in three attempts.
The Comets return to action Friday night as they hit the road for the first of a two-game set against the Laval Rocket. Puck drop from Place Bell is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. The game can be heard on 94.9 KROCK and viewed on AHL Live.
