TORONTO, O.N. – The Utica Comets saw their season-high four-game win streak come to a halt Saturday afternoon with a 4-1 loss to the Toronto Marlies Saturday afternoon at the Air Canada Centre. The game was played at the home of the National Hockey League’s Toronto Maple Leafs as part of the Marlies’ Air Canada Series. The Comets record fell to 7-10-1-0
Rookie goaltender Michael Garteig made his American Hockey League debut with a 31-save performance in the loss. Cody Kunyk (1-0-1) recorded his second goal of the season and Jordan Subban (0-1-1) recorded an assist to extend his road point streak to six games.
The Marlies jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a pair of goals 11:53 into the game. First, Colin Smith skated around Garteig and slipped a pass to Tobias Lindberg all alone in the crease for his third goal of the year just 2:40 into the game. Then, Milan Michalek skated through a pair of Comets defenders before Trevor Moore whacked the puck past Garteig’s blocker.
The AHL’s leader in points, Brendan Leipsic, extended the Marlies lead to 3-0 when he blasted a one-timer into the gaping net while on a 5-on-3 power play.
The Comets finally got on the board and snapped Jeff Glass’s shutout bid 8:59 into the third with a power-play goal. After he received a pass from Colby Robak, Subban threaded a pass through traffic that Kunyk niftily redirected past Glass and into the net.
Colin Smith regained the three-goal lead after he collected his third point, and first goal of the afternoon 11:15 into the third.
The Comets power play went 1-for-2 on the night, while the penalty kill successfully killed off five of the Marlies’ six power play opportunities.
The Comets return to action Wednesday night at the Utica Memorial Auditorium. Puck drop between the Comets and the Rochester Americans is scheduled for 7 p.m.
