BRIDGEPORT, CT – Ryan Pulock extended his point streak to a career-high six games (four goals, two assists) on Saturday, but it wasn’t enough as the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (18-15-1-1) suffered a 3-1 loss to the Utica Comets (15-16-5-1) on Military Appreciation Night at Webster Bank Arena.
Devon Toews also recorded his team-best 20th assist, while Jaroslav Halak (1-1-2) made 26 saves between the pipes. However, Darren Archibald, Alexandre Grenier and Evan McEneny all notched third-period goals for the Comets in their come-from-behind victory.
Bridgeport’s special teams play was the highlight of the evening, going 1-for-1 on the power play and 3-for-3 on the penalty kill.
After a scoreless first period, Pulock put the Sound Tigers on top at 7:33 of the middle frame with a power-play goal. With Wacey Hamilton in the box for holding, Bracken Kearns won a faceoff in the right circle to Josh Winquist, who brushed a pass back to Toews. From the blue line, Toews slid the puck across to Pulock, where he ripped a one-timer past Richard Bachman’s blocker. It was Pulock’s fourth goal of the season.
The Comets began their comeback at 5:35 of the third with Archibald’s 11th goal of the season. Grenier skated with the puck into the offensive zone and fed it to Archibald at the doorstep, where the sixth-year pro redirected a shot past Halak’s glove.
Utica sealed its win with two more goals in the final two and a half minutes. Grenier produced the eventual game-winning tally at the 17:34 mark, finishing an odd-man rush into Bridgeport’s zone. Archibald created the attack down the left wing before centering it for Grenier in the crease. McEneny capped the scoring with an empty netter from the bottom of his own right circle at 19:14. It was his second goal of the season.
Bachman (6-7-1) made 32 saves in Utica’s win. The Sound Tigers outshot the Comets 33-28.