UTICA, N.Y. – The Utica Comets erased a second period 3-0 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton penguins lead before falling 4-3 in overtime Tuesday night at the Utica Memorial Auditorium. The Penguins struck twice in the first period and then again early in the second period before the Comets took the game over and mounted their comeback and scored three straight.
Carter Bancks (0-2-0) had a multi-point night, while Chris Higgins (1-0-0), Jordan Subban (1-0-0), and Brendan Gaunce (1-0-0) each recorded goals for the Comets. Richard Bachman made 21 saves in net for Utica.
The Penguins struck first when Derek Army scored off of a rebound 7:47 into the first period. Reid McNeill and Jean-Sebastien Dea assisted on the goal.
Kael Mouillierat gave the Penguins a 2-0 lead, scoring off from a face-off with 26 seconds left in the first period.
Wilkes-Barre extended their lead to 3-0, when Bachman came out of net to knock the puck away, but Derek Army picked it up and put it past Bachman as he was scrambling to get back in net.
Utica wouldn’t go down easy, as they mounted a comeback.
The Comets got on the board 6:56 into the second on Chris Higgins first goal as a Comet. Higgins took the puck around the back of the net, and squeezed a wrap-around shot past Matt Murray.
With 4:52 left in the second, Subban ripped a shot from the left slot, and put it to the glove side of Murray for his eighth goal of the season, cutting the Penguin lead to 3-2.
Utica wouldn’t let up in the third period, as they tied the score 3-3 with 9:36 left in regulation, sending it to overtime. Alexandre Grenier sent a pass from the left circle, across the front of the net to Brendan Gaunce, who fired a shot into the back of the net for his 13th goal of the season.
The Penguins would score just 33 seconds into overtime for a 4-3 win. Bachman went behind the net to get a loose puck, sending a pass to the left side, but Carter Rowney intercepted the pass and bounced the puck into the open net.
Matt Murray made 34 saves for the Penguins, as they improve to 31-14-1-1 on the season. The loss drops the Comets to 22-17-4-3.
The Comets will stay at home for their next game, as they will welcome the Binghamton Senators to the Utica Memorial Auditorium. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m.
