Utica, NY – The Adirondack Flames were defeated 3-0 by the Utica Comets on Wednesday evening at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.
Joni Ortio put in a workman’s effort between the pipes for the Flames with 31 saves on 34 shots but the Adirondack offense could not solve Jacob Markstrom, who turned away all 29 shots the saw for the Comets.
Hunter Shinkaruk opened the scoring for Utica with just 2:47 left in the first period, as he stepped into the slot and put a shot past Ortio to make it 1-0 Comets. The goal was the first of Shinkaruk’s professional career. Forward Dustin Jeffrey collected the only assist on the play, his fourth point of the season. The first period featured up tempo hockey, as the two teams combined for 28 total shots, 15-13 in favor of Utica.
Neither team found the scoreboard during the second period of play, as the goaltending of Ortio and Jacob Markstrom stole the show. Ortio was a perfect 13-of-13 during the middle stanza while Markstrom turned aside all seven Adirondack shots he faced.
The Comets doubled their advantage just 76 seconds into the third period as Nicklas Jensen capitalized on another Adirondack penalty and beat Ortio to make it 2-0. Utica center Cal O’Reilly made a nice looking feed across the front of the net to the Danish winger, who had an open cage to bury the puck. The goal was the first of the season for Jensen while O’Reilly collected his third assist of 2014-15.
The home side iced things with just 4:44 to play in the game as Brandon DeFazio picked up his second goal of the season, this a shorthanded tally. The winger picked off a pass in the slot of his own zone and went the length of the ice to beat Ortio glove side on a breakaway.
The Flames are back in action Friday evening as they travel to Rochester to take on the Americans at Blue Cross Arena, with start time slated for 7:05 p.m. The two teams then return home for a Saturday rematch at the Glens Falls Civic Center with puck drop at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are still available for Saturday’s home contest. Visit the Flames box office, call 518-480-3355, or order online at glensfallscc.com to be a part of Saturday Night is Hockey Night in Glens Falls.
Adirondack Flames Hockey • Fired Up
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