Glens Falls, NY - The Adirondack Flames dropped their pre-season finale to the Utica Comets for the second night in a row by a score of 4-1 on Saturday night at the Glens Falls Civic Center.
Corban Knight scored his first goal of the pre-season for Adirondack as Garnet Hathaway and Bill Arnold each picked up an assist. Flames goaltender Brad Thiessen finished the night with 21 saves in defeat.
Despite back and forth action during the first period, with power play opportunities for both teams, including a 28 second 5-on-3 for the Flames, the buzzer sounded to end a scoreless first period.
It didn’t take long for Utica to find the back of the net at the beginning of the second period. Just 80 seconds into the middle stanza Dustin Jeffrey, who scored twice during Friday night’s match-up, struck yet again with his third goal of the pre-season to give Utica the 1-0 lead. Rookie winger Hunter Shinkaruk and veteran Brandon DeFazio had the assists on the play.
A mere 26 seconds later it was Darren Archibald for the Comets, as he beat Adirondack netminder Brad Thiessen up high to give the Comets the two goal lead. Archibald’s tally was assisted by linemates Carter Banacks and Wacey Hamilton.
The Flames finally broke through midway through the third period as Corban Knight beat Cannata from the top of the circle on a delayed Utica penalty to pull Adirondack within one. Knight’s goal, which came after a flurry of Adirondack chances, was assisted by Garnet Hathaway and Bill Arnold, the first points of the pre-season for all three.
With just 2:07 remaining in the game, however, Bancks got the insurance goal for the Comets as he cashed in on a two-on-one break to regain the two goal lead for Utica. Hamilton added an empty net marker to seal the deal for Utica.
Saturday night’s loss wrapped up the 2014 pre-season for Adirondack, which ended with an 0-2-0-0 record. The Flames will be back in action this coming Friday, October 10th in Rochester, as they kick off the 2014 regular season against the Americans. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. The Flames return to the Civic Center the following night as they host the Albany Devils in a 7:00 p.m. contest.
Tickets are still available for the Flames’ home opener against the Devils. Visit the Civic Center box office for tickets, call 855-432-2849 or online at glensfallscc.com.
Adirondack Flames Hockey • Fired Up
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