The Utica Comets have recently had mixed results on special teams.

That was again true for the Comets on Saturday against an efficient Cleveland Monsters power play.

The Monsters scored back-to-back goals on the man-advantage over about a two-minute span of game time and added another shorthanded goal to hand the Comets a 3-2 setback in a matinee to close a two-game set between the North Division opponents.

It was the third time in the last six games that the Comets have allowed two power-play goals. The Comets are 17-of-24 (70%) on the penalty kill over the six-game span. The team has dropped to 18th in the AHL on the penalty kill.

Cleveland (21-21-2-2, 46 points) finished 2-for-2 on the power play to help them win for the third time in four games. The Monsters sit near the bottom of the North Division.

The result spelled the fifth setback in the last six games for the Comets (26-18-2-2, 56 points), who are battling for position near the top of the North. The Comets whose 48 games played are most among North teams are 5-6-0-0 in their last 11 contests.

Utica got its own power-play goal from rookie forward David Pope to finish 1-for-5 on the advantage. Lukas Jasek also had a goal for the Comets, who lacked a physical aspect with the same lineup as Fridays shutout win as they remained without forwards Reid Boucher and Jonah Gadjovich among injured players. Justin Bailey and Zack MacEwen are on recall.

Zane McIntyre who had a couple quality saves on high-danger chances to keep the game close finished with 24 saves. Hes 11-10- 2 with a 3.16 goals-against average this season.

Special teams were a factor from the beginning for the Comets and Monsters.

The Comets opened the scoring 3:30 into the game with help from their sixth-ranked power-play. Utilizing strong puck movement by the teams second unit, Pope scored on a backdoor play following a quick pass from Carter Camper. Olli Juolevi also had a good setup to help start the tic-tac-toe play.

Clevelands penalty kill answered 3:12 later against the Comets aggressive power play. Calvin Thurkauf tied it at 1 when he snuck a shot from the right circle around Brogan Rafferty and over McIntyres glove.

It was the 12th shorthanded goal allowed by the Comets this season, which is most in the AHL.

With the Comets on the kill Francis Perron was off for hooking late in the period the Monsters Stefan Matteau made it 2-1 when his one-time blast from the right circle eluded McIntyre over his shoulder with 1:14 left.

Cleveland started the middle frame on the power play following a late Jasek penalty and extended the lead to 3-1 when Trey Fix-Wolansky buried a backdoor feed from Mark Dano just 1:10 into the period.

Utica pulled within 3-2 late in the second when Jasek put in a rebound from the slot for his 13th of the season. The Comets again showed good puck movement on the play with Nikolay Goldobin sending a pass to Jalen Chatfield, who had his one-timer from the high slot denied by Brad Thiessen.

It was Goldobins career-best 27th assist this season and his 100th career assist in the AHL.

The Comets made a good push in the third period, including pulling McIntyre late for an extra attacker. However, the Comets had a power-play late in the game halted after the officials called Kole Lind for tripping with 51 seconds to limit the Comets.

Ferland to join Comets

Canucks General Manager Jim Benning told Vancouver media that forward Micheal Ferland will join the Comets on a conditioning loan this week.

The rugged Ferland (upper body) has been on injured reserve since early December. According to rules, that would mean Ferlands stint would last six days. The loan could be extended, if needed.

Monsters 3, Comets 2

Utica 1 1 0 - 2

Cleveland 2 1 0 - 3

1st Period-1, Utica, Pope 1 (Camper, Juolevi), 3:30 (PP). 2, Cleveland, Thurkauf 6 (Bittner, Karlsson), 6:48 (SH). 3, Cleveland, Matteau 11 (Clendening, Stenlund), 18:46 (PP). Penalties-Fix-Wolansky Cle (hooking), 1:48; Vigneault Cle (slashing), 5:40; Perron Uti (hooking), 18:02; Jasek Uti (hooking), 19:18.

2nd Period-4, Cleveland, Fix-Wolansky 6 (Dano, Matteau), 1:10 (PP). 5, Utica, Jasek 13 (Chatfield, Goldobin), 16:04. Penalties-Somerby Cle (holding), 2:37; Clendening Cle (slashing), 19:41.

3rd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Clendening Cle (delay of game), 18:37; Lind Uti (tripping), 19:09.

Shots on Goal-Utica 8-9-11-28. Cleveland 13-6-8-27.

Power Play Opportunities-Utica 1 / 5; Cleveland 2 / 2.

Goalies-Utica, McIntyre 11-10-2 (27 shots-24 saves). Cleveland, Thiessen 2-1-0 (28 shots-26 saves).

A-8,752

Referees-Beau Halkidis (48), Jake Jackson (76).

Linesmen-Tyson Baker (88), Jonathan Deschamps (84).

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Monsters special teams key in win over Comets - Utica Observer Dispatch