January 24, 2014 - 9:45 PM
ABBOTSFORD, B.C. - Benn Ferriero's goal at 2:22 of overtime lifted the Utica Comets to a 1-0 win over the Abbotsford Heat in American Hockey League action Friday.
Ferriero walked out from the corner and found space short side on goaltender Joni Ortio for the winner.
Joacim Eriksson made 36 saves for the Comets (14-20-5), who have now won three in a row after winning just once in their previous nine.
Ortio stopped 28 shots for Abbotsford (26-14-3).
Markus Granlund had the first quality scoring chance of the game with eight minutes to go in the first. Eriksson, however, snared the hard wrister that was labelled for the top corner to keep the game scoreless.
The Heat thought they scored at 5:24 of the second period. Sven Baertschi's quick backhander seemed destined for the back of the net but Eriksson reached back with his paddle to pull the puck off the goal line. Though it was initially called a goal, upon review officials waved it off.
With less than two minutes to go in the second Max Reinhart was sent in by Chris Breen's perfect breakaway pass, but Eriksson kicked out his right pad to make the save. He made 24 through 40 minutes.
Jordan Schroeder was playing his first game of the season after returning from a foot injury.
The two teams face each other again Saturday night at the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2014