Jordan Subban #7 of the Utica Comets pulls away from Nikita Soshnikov #90 of the Toronto Marlies on January 24, 2016 at the Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
By Ben Birnell
October 16, 2016
Game time: 5 p.m. Sunday at Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto.
The Comets and Marlies meet for the second time in as many days, with Utica trying for its first win. Toronto scored four times on the power play to earn a 5-2 victory on Saturday. The Comets will try to start the season 1-1 for the second time in the team’s short history.
Notes: Alex Grenier (goal, assist) and Jordan Subban (two assists) each had multi-point games for the Comets in Saturday’s loss. … Grenier’s goal was his 51st with the Comets and 22nd goal on the power play. Both lead the franchise. … With Saturday’s loss, the Comets are 1-3 in season-openers. The five goals the Comets gave up were the most they’ve allowed in a season-opening game. … The four power-play goals were the most they’ve allowed since giving up three to Syracuse on Feb. 19. … Carter Bancks was named Comets captain on Friday. … Wacey Hamilton and Darren Archibald were alternate captains on Saturday. … The Comets signed Marco Roy to an AHL deal Thursday. He was a scratch Saturday. … Derek Hulak is day-to-day with an injury. … Travis Green said earlier in the week that he had not decided how he would deploy his goaltenders. Richard Bachman started Saturday with Thatcher Demko backing him up. Green rotated his goalies in previous seasons, possibly meaning Demko could start Sunday. … On Saturday, four players had multi-point games for Toronto, including Brendan Leipsic, who had a goal and three assists. … The Comets and Marlies play a total of 8 times this season. The Comets were 3-3-0-2 against the Marlies last season.
The Utica Comets got off to a rough start in their first regular season game.
A dominant Toronto Marlies’ special teams played a big part.
The Marlies totaled four power-play goals in two periods and earned a 5-2 victory over their North Division counterparts Saturday afternoon at Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto.
Brandon Leipsic scored a goal and added three assists; Andreas Johnsson scored two power-play goals; others also totaled multiple points for Toronto, which were one of most high-scoring teams in the American Hockey League last season.
Toronto, which led 5-0 in the second period, finished 4 for 7 on the power play. Goaltender Garrett Sparks turned aside 27 shots for the Marlies.
Alex Grenier had a power-play goal and added an assist, Jordan Subban totaled two assists and Curtis Valk also scored for the Comets, which finished 1 for 6 on the man-advantage.
Goaltender Richard Bachman was tested throughout, totaling 29 saves on 34 shots.
The two teams meet again at 5 p.m. Sunday in Toronto.
First period
Toronto came out quickly, eventually breaking open a scoreless game with two quick power-play goals.
With the Marlies on a 5-on-3 advantage, defenseman Andrew Nielsen scored from the slot for a 1-0 lead with 4:59 remaining. Less than a minute later, Nikita Soshnikov made it 2-0 with another power-play goal on a rebound in front.
The Marlies outshot the Comets 16-6 in the period.
Second period
Toronto extended its lead with three goals — two more on special teams — about four minutes apart. The Comets got on the board late.
Leipsic scored the eventual game-winner with 10:51 left before Andreas Johnsson added two power-play goals 1:19 apart not long after to give the Marlies a five-goal lead.
The Comets got on the board late, when Valk scored from in close on the left side past a sprawling Sparks to make it 5-1.
Third period
The Comets turned up the pressure early, adding a power-play goal about a minute into the period. The Comets made it 5-2 when Grenier scored off a one-timer from atop the left circle. Michael Chaput had an assist on the goal.
The Comets were not able to get another past Sparks, despite outshooting the Marlies 15-7 in the period.
Marlies 5, Comets 2
Utica 0 1 1 – 2
Toronto 2 3 0 – 5
1st Period-1, Toronto, Nielsen 1 (Leipsic, Kapanen), 15:01 (PP). 2, Toronto, Soshnikov 1 (Rychel, Kapanen), 15:49 (PP). Penalties-LaBate Uti (double minor – high-sticking), 12:45; Negrin Uti (tripping), 13:50; Holl Tor (hooking), 18:52.
2nd Period-3, Toronto, Leipsic 1 (Lindberg, Loov), 9:09. 4, Toronto, Johnsson 1 (Nielsen, Leipsic), 12:01 (PP). 5, Toronto, Johnsson 2 (Leipsic, Nielsen), 13:20 (PP). 6, Utica, Valk 1 (Grenier, Subban), 18:00. Penalties-Valiev Tor (tripping), 6:59; Sautner Uti (hooking), 11:50; Valk Uti (delay of game – faceoff violation), 12:01; Holl Tor (tripping), 13:35; Johnsson Tor (interference), 19:55.
3rd Period-7, Utica, Grenier 1 (Subban, Chaput), 1:02 (PP). Penalties-served by Rychel Tor (bench minor – too many men), 2:12; Lindberg Tor (hooking), 7:23; Stecher Uti (high-sticking), 8:38; Rendulic Uti (tripping), 17:14.
Shots on Goal-Utica 6-8-15-29. Toronto 16-11-7-34.
Power Play Opportunities-Utica 1 / 6; Toronto 4 / 7.
