UTICA Another day, another milestone for Justin Bailey.
With his mom in attendance Friday, the speedy Utica Comets forward notched his second hat trick in as many games and third career pro achievement in the last seven days.
Baileys impressive feat with assistance from a empty-netter late helped the Comets rally for a gutsy 6-3 win over the Hartford Wolf Pack for the second win in three days between the Eastern Conference teams.
"It has been a special week for sure," Bailey said. "You dont score goals by yourself, especially in pro hockey. ... As a whole, our team is doing a great job. It is obviously a really fun time for all of us."
According to the AHL, Bailey is the first player since 2011 to have hat tricks in consecutive games since Mark Mancari.
Baileys jaw-dropping stretch includes 13 goals and 17 points in his last 11 games. His 22 goals are tied with Reid Boucher for the team lead. Bailey and Boucher are among five Comets in the top 5 in the AHL in scoring.
The Comets are 3-1-0-0 on their season-long five-game homestand. The team is 12-8-2-1 at home this season.
The win pushed the Comets to 24-13-2-2 overall and two points ahead of idle Belleville in a tight North Division. The Comets play a total of six games over the next nine days before the All-Star break.
"Thats a really good team over there. To beat them back-to-back nights is great for our team and great for our morale," Bailey said. "It is a special night with my mom (Karen) in the building. ...You want to stay dialed in."
Kole Lind notched his 11th goal of the season and added two assists, including waiting to feed his linemate Bailey him on the empty-netter. Bailey said Lind is "like his little brother."
"Obviously, I told him right before we took the center-ice faceoff if the goalie comes out no matter if Im on a breakaway or what, skate up the ice because Im giving you the puck," Lind said with a laugh.
Olli Juolevi also had a goal and an assist, and Carter Camper added an empty-netter for the Comets, who had standout rookie defenseman Brogan Rafferty (undisclosed soreness) join veteran Sven Baertschi among the list of injured players to miss the game.
Trent Cull credited the effort of the teams defensemen, especially in the third period.
"It was any easy game," Cull said. "They were completely invested in that one."
Mike DiPietro totaled 20 saves on 21 shots in relief of Zane McIntyre, who allowed two goals on seven shots in the first period.
Nick Jones gave Hartford (23-10-3-5) a 1-0 lead with 11:24 left in the first period when his shot from top of the right circle got through a screen and past McIntyre following an extended possession in the Comets zone.
Then, Utica killed half of Linds four-minute high sticking infraction before Vinni Lettieris blast from the top of the left circle ended McIntyres night.
"Coach kept it pretty cool and calm on the bench," Bailey said. "We didnt panic and played our game."
With help from the forecheck, the Comets got some momentum late after Bailey forced a turnover and sent a feed to Lind, who fired from the right circle and past Tom McCollum with 1:16 left.
Utica carried the energy into the second period, tying it at 2 after Boucher sent a cross-ice feed to Juolevi, who scored his second of the season from the slot with 12:33 left. Nikolay Goldobins outlet pass helped set up the goal.
Bailey put the Comets ahead 3-2 on a nice individual effort, making move to get around Wolf Pack defenders and then put a perfectly placed shot in from the slot to end McCollums game with 7:28 remaining.
Shawn McBride tied the game at 3-3 less a minute later, putting in a rebound from the left side.
Bailey gave Utica the lead for good when he forced another turnover and quickly scored from the edge of the right circle with 3:24 remaining.
"I thought in the second period we got our forecheck rolling a little bit," Cull said. "I thought that created momentum for us."
The teams played a mostly even third period and Hartford pulled Adam Huska for an extra attacker and Camper put in a slow-rolling empty-netter with 2:26 to go.
Notes: The Comets called up Matt Petgrave from ECHL Brampton on Friday in part because of injuries to Rafferty and Dylan Blujus. Petgrave, who is on AHL deal, did not play. ... Ashton Sautner left the game late in the third period after blocking a few shots. ... Vincent Arseneau was injured with eight seconds remaining following a fight with Mason Geertsen. Arseneau got an instigator penalty, which carries an automatic one-game suspension.
Comets 6, Wolf Pack 3
Hartford 2 1 0 - 3
Utica 1 3 2 - 6
1st Period-1, Hartford, Jones 5 (Hajek), 8:36. 2, Hartford, Lettieri 18 (LoVerde, O'Regan), 11:50 (PP). 3, Utica, Lind 11 (Bailey), 18:44. Penalties-Lind Uti (double minor - high-sticking), 9:20; Malone Uti (hooking), 15:14.
2nd Period-4, Utica, Juolevi 2 (Boucher, Goldobin), 7:37. 5, Utica, Bailey 20 (Lind), 12:32. 6, Hartford, McBride 1 (Gropp), 13:31. 7, Utica, Bailey 21 16:16. Penalties-No Penalties
3rd Period-8, Utica, Camper 5 (Juolevi), 17:34 (EN). 9, Utica, Bailey 22 (Lind), 18:54 (EN). Penalties-served by Lettieri Hfd (bench minor - too many men), 4:53; Arseneau Uti (holding the stick), 7:38; Fogarty Hfd (interference), 9:24.
Shots on Goal-Hartford 10-13-5-28. Utica 5-12-11-28.
Power Play Opportunities-Hartford 1 / 4; Utica 0 / 2.
Goalies-Hartford, McCollum 0-1-1 (12 shots-9 saves); Huska 8-5-4 (14 shots-13 saves). Utica, McIntyre 11-7-2 (7 shots-5 saves); DiPietro 12-5-1 (21 shots-20 saves).
A-3,935
Referees-Mitch Dunning (43), Tim Mayer (19).
Linesmen-Tory Carissimo (54), Jason Brown (44).
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Another Bailey hat trick helps pace Comets past Wolf Pack - Utica Observer Dispatch
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