The visiting Utica Comets scored three times in the third period en route to a 4-1 win over the Portland Pirates at Cross Insurance Arena. The loss was the third in a row for the Florida Panthers AHL affiliate, who dropped to 7-9 on the season.
Carter Bancks beat Portland starter Mike McKenna, from Ashton Sautner, at 7:21 of the first period to open the scoring.
The goalies would rule until 13:46 of the final frame when the Comets went ahead by two on a power-play tally from Taylor Fedun. The goal was Fedun’s fourth and was set up by Hunter Shinkaruk and Linden Vey.
Bancks picked up his second goal with an empty-netter at the 18:33 mark. Blair Jones and Wacey Hamilton combined on the assists.
The Pirates finally got on the board when Chase Balisy potted his third goal seventeen seconds later. Defenseman Brent Regner picked up the lone assist on Balisy’s marker.
Jones completed the scoring with another empty-net goal, with Bancks collecting his third point of the night with the only helper.
Richard Bachman posted his second win of the campaign, finishing with 29 saves, while McKenna stopped 15 of the 17 shots he faced, falling to 6-6.
The two clubs will meet again in Portland tonight at 7 pm to finish the back-to-back set.