ST. JOHN’S, NL – For over 58 minutes the Utica Comets and St. John’s IceCaps engaged in a goaltender’s duel at the Mile One Centre. After that, Brendan Gaunce exploded for two goals to tie, and then win, the game by the score of 3-2 for the Comets in overtime.
Jon Landry (1-0-1), and Brendan Gaunce (2-0-2) accounted for all the Comets scoring in this one. Landrys goal was his fifth point in the last four games. Michael Zalewski (0-1-1) kept his torrid pace up with an assist. He has now collected seven points (4-3-7) in four games since returning from a two-game stint with the Vancouver Canucks.
The IceCaps opened up the game’s scoring 15:17 into the game when Jacob de la Rose rang a shot off of the post and then cleaned up his own rebound for his second goal in as many nights.
The IceCaps lead would be short-lived, however, as Jon Landry and the Comets knotted the game at 1-1 just four minutes later. With sustained pressure thanks to a power play, Jordan Subban and Michael Zalewski played pitch-and-catch with the puck near the left point. With a defender out of position, Zalewski sauced a pass across the entire zone to Jon Landry who was positioned at the top of the circle to Pasquale’s left. Landry collected the puck and wired a slapshot over the shoulder of the IceCaps’ goaltender for his fifth goal of the season.
The second period went scoreless, but not for a lack of excitement. The goaltenders, Joe Cannata and Edward Pasquale, exchanged highlight-reel worthy saves throughout the middle twenty minutes.
The IceCaps once again regained the lead after Gabriel Dumont jammed a rebound past Cannata with 10:16 left in the game.
Cue the Brendan Gaunce dramatics.
The Comets tied the game back up as Joe Cannata raced to the Comets bench in favor of an extra attacker. Shinkaruk chipped the puck through an IceCaps defender which sprung Gaunce on a partial breakaway. Gaunce flipped the puck over the poke check attempt from Pasquale before he backhanded the puck over the goaltender’s leg pad to force overtime.
It took just five seconds of overtime hockey for Gaunce to strike again. Gaunce took the draw and won it forward. After sidestepping the center, and a defenseman, Gaunce ripped a wrist shot from the top of the circle that screamed past Pasquale’s glove to complete the weekend sweep.
With the win the Comets record improves to 22-17-3-3.
The Comets return home for a rare Tuesday night game when the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins visit The AUD for the first time this season. Puck drop is slated for 7pm.
