The Utica Comets completed the weekend sweep over the American Hockey League’s top team, the Abbotsford Heat, in exciting fashion, a 4-3 overtime victory at the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre on Saturday Night. The win was the Comets fifth straight victory away from The AUD.
Photo from Utica Comets
Pascal Pelletier provided the game-winning goal in overtime, and an assist, while Kellan Lain led the way for the Comets with his first two professional hockey league goals. Joe Cannata picked up his second win in as many nights.
The Heat struck first with a goal from Turner Elson 10:37 into the opening period. The goal-scoring play started with Chad Billins as he broke into the Comets zone and fired a shot on Cannata. Turner, who was crashed the Comets net, buried the rebound. Ben Hanowski picked up the secondary assist.
Just a touch under seven minutes later the Comets would tie the game at one. Yannick Weber unleashed a slapshot from the point that was redirected into the back of the net by Kellan Lain. The goal was Lain’s first career professional hockey league goal. Henrik Tommernes picked up the secondary assist on the goal.
Kellan Lain was not done there, as he picked up his second goal of the night 16:24 into the second period. Biega and Lain broke into the Heat’s zone as part of a 3-on-2 rush. Biega’s shot was knocked down by a Heat defender, but the puck found Lain’s stick who then fired a shot past a sprawling Joey MacDonald to give the Comets their first lead of the night.
The third period provided a lot of the game’s excitement, with three of the game’s seven goals. The Heat tied the game at two with a goal just 3:51 into the frame. Ben Street, off a feed from Michael Ferland, slid a pass across the top of the crease to Jack Jooris, who one-timed a shot past Cannata.
The Comets added their fourth goal of the evening, to take the lead again, just two and a half minutes later. Colin Stuart walked out of the corner, and across the top of the crease, and roofed a backhanded shot that beat MacDonald. Pascal Pelletier picked up the assist, and has a point in every Comets road game (nine games).
Less than three minutes later the Heat tied the game again. Ben Street broke into the Comets zone and unleashed a slapshot from the top of the circle that beat Cannata stick side. Markus Granlund and Joey MacDonald picked up the assists.
In overtime, the Comets ended the game 2:07 in. Pascal Pelletier crashed the net hard, and buried the feed from Colin Stuart. The goal came on the Comets franchise’s first overtime shot.