FLAMES SPIRITED EFFORT NOT ENOUGH IN 3-2 LOSS TO COMETS

Glens Falls, NY – The Adirondack Flames were defeated 3-2 by the Utica Comets on Saturday evening at the Glens Falls Civic Center in front of 4,369 fans.

It was a fight to the finish for the Flames, who took a 2-1 lead just 1:28 into the final period when Emile Poirier reached the back of the net after a pass from Sena Acolatse. Twenty-two seconds later Mike Zalewski had an unassisted goal that knotted the game back up 2-2.

Both teams held steady at 2-2 the rest of the period until Mike Zalewski snapped an unassisted goal stick side past Adirondack goalie Joni Ortio for the game winner, with 2:10 left in the final period. It was his second and Utica’s first lead of the game. Ortio finished the game 15 saves on 18 shots.

The Comets opened the scoring just over two minutes into the game on a shorthanded goal from Carter Bancks. He reached the back of the net off of a pass from Will Acton as Kent Huskins received a secondary assist on the goal. It was the only goal of the period, as neither team could garner much offensively. Adirondack led with six shots on goal while the Comets had just five.

Despite the loss, the Flames played an impressive second period. Offensively, the Flames opened the period firing shots, with six shots on goal in the first five minutes of play. The aggressive shooting paid off when Turner Elson scored on a partial breakaway on a pass from Mark Cundari to tie the game 1-1 with 6:48 remaining in the period.

The two teams skated back and forth during much of the period, with the Flames putting together one of their finest 20 minutes of the season. Adirondack held Utica to just seven shots on the period, thanks in part to an incredible defensive effort, including Brian McGrattan laying out as Alexandre Grenier wound up a shot from the left circle.

Poirier’s third period goal gave the Flames its first and only lead of the game for 22 seconds before Utica tied it up once again 2-2. The Flames ended the game with 39 shots on goal, including 12 in the second period and 15 in the final period of play, not quite eclipsing its season high of 50.

The Flames are back on the ice Tuesday evening as they take on the Syracuse Crunch at the Civic Center, with start time slated for 7:00 p.m. Tickets are still available for the contest. Visit the Flames box office, call 518-480-3355, or order online at glensfallscc.com to be a part of Great Meadow Federal Credit Union Tuesday, where discount tickets are offered at all GMFCU branches.

Adirondack Flames Hockey • Fired Up

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