ADIRONDACK 4 UTICA 5

Glens Falls, NY – The Adirondack Flames’ three game winning streak on home ice ended in a 5-4 loss to the Utica Comets on Saturday evening at the Glens Falls Civic Center.

Emile Poirier skated in his first game of the season and scored two goals, a career-high. Bill Arnold also recorded a career-high with two assists. Brad Thiessen made 20 saves on 22 shots in relief of Joni Ortio, who took the loss.

The Utica Comets opened the scoring just 37 seconds into the game as Brandon DeFazio beat Adirondack goaltender Joni Ortio with an assist from Darren Archibald. Less than two minutes later the Comets struck again, as Nicklas Jensen extended the Utica advantage to two. Alex Biega and Cal O’Reilly were credited with the assists.

The Flames had two power play opportunities in the first period but were unable to capitalize. Moments after the second man advantage expired, Poirier sent a rocket past Utica goalie Joacim Eriksson 14:38 into the period to cut the Comets’ lead to 2-1. It was Poirier’s first goal in his first game of the season. Arnold and Patrick Sieloff recorded assists, Sieloff’s first point as a professional.

Moments later, Utica re-extended their lead to two goals, as Peter Andersson slipped one past Ortio from the point with an assist from Bobby Sanguinetti, After Utica’s third goal, Brad Thiessen took over as netminder for the Flames. Ortio finished his night with eight saves on 11 shots.

In the second period, the Comets capitalized on the power play after Bryce Van Brabant was whistled for hooking. Alexandre Grenier buried the goal off of a nice backdoor feed from O’Reilly. Nicklas Jensen had the secondary helper as the Comets took their largest lead of the night at 4-1.

Despite a three-goal disadvantage, the Flames did not sit back as Poirier doubled his pleasure. Just over a minute after Grenier’s tally, Poirier got one past Eriksson off of a quick pass from Bill Arnold to shorten Utica’s lead 4-2. Defenseman Dustin Stevenson was also credited with an assist on the goal, his fifth point of the season.

Utica answered back with its fifth goal of the night to push its lead to 5-2 thanks to Carter Bancks. After a scramble in front of Thiessen, Bancks found space on the back post and was able to chop the puck past. Wacey Hamilton recorded the lone assist on the play.

On Adirondack’s fourth power play of the night, a quick-thinking Thiessen sent an outlet pass to Max Reinhart, who Fed Van Brabant who snapped a shot past Thiessen to cut the deficit to 5-3. The point was the first of the season for Thiessen and his first since the 2011-12 season.

Minutes later, at the 15:50 of the second period, Ben Hanowski took a feed from Corban Knight in the slot and sent it into the net to pull the Flames within one goal at 5-4. Winger Sven Baertschi recorded an assist on the goal, his second in as many games.

The three-goal middle period would not be enough for the Flames, however. The two teams skated to a scoreless final period. The Flames had four power play opportunities in the final period, including a 5-on-3 chance, but could not convert. Adirondack had multiple close calls, including three shots that hit the iron, but could not get anything to go.

The Flames embark on a two-week road trip, beginning next Friday in Hamilton against the Bulldogs, with puck drop slated for 7:30 p.m. Adirondack does not return to Glens Falls until Nov. 18 for a matchup against the Chicago Wolves. Tickets are available now, through a full season, 22, 12, flex or holiday plan. Visit the Flames box office, call 518-480-3355, or order online now at glensfallscc.com.