Just over seven minutes into the second period the Utica Comets scored their third goal of the game and took a 3-0 lead over the Rochester Americans. It didn’t feel good. It didn’t look good either. After the third goal against I sent out a tweet saying, “put a fork in this one. Comets take a 3-0 lead.” Reverse jinx in full effect. Apologies to the coaches and players for doubting any kind of comeback.

Hockey teams have a way of giving up goals within a short amount of time. Sometimes it favors your team, other times it favors the other team. On Friday night in Utica it was a combination of both for the Amerks.

ZachRedmond scored his league leading ninth game winning goal to give the Amerks a 4-3 win and extend their winning streak to four games.

Here’s how the game went..

The Amerks had a slight advantage after 20 minutes with a 12-5 advantage in shots and also a bounce that almost went in their favor. Brendan Guhle put a puck off the cross bar that could have bounced into the net but went straight down and away from the crease.

Two turnovers within a 59 second span and then another one 5:14 later provided the Utica Comets with a 3-0 lead at 7:09 of the second period. The lead that many felt was the end of the game.

Alex Nylander received a pass from Brendan Guhle in the first minute of the second period and after being quickly attacked for the puck it was a turnover and Tanner Kero put the Comets up 1-0. Assists to Reid Boucher. Just 59 seconds later Reid Gardiner scored after intercepting a passing attempt by Yannick Veilleux and scoring off a quick shot to beat Wedgewood.

Just over five minutes later a puck battle along the boards was lost by Alex Nylander, the Comets fired a shot on Wedgewood, and Guhle had his clearing attempt blocked. Guillaume Brisebois was watching the play unfold and picked up a loose puck at the hash marks to score for the 3-0 lead.

The lines were shifted after that third goal against with Alex Nylander sitting on the bench and not seeing any ice time until the third period had started.

Victor Olofsson scored the first of three power play goals at 12:24 of the second period to begin the Amerks comeback. Rasmus Asplund missed the initial pass from Olofsson but a quick recovery, quick pass back to Olofsson, and a quick shot put the Amerks on the scoreboard. That was the 20th goal of the season for Olofsson.

Less than five minutes later Wayne Simpson scored his 19th goal of the season on a breakaway. Andrew MacWilliam intercepted a pass and just as quick spotted Simpson breaking out towards the neutral zone and hit him with a pass on his off side. Simpson made a couple of moves and scored back hand.

We had ourselves a hockey game.

Remi Elie scored his fourth goal in six games with the Amerks to tie the game 3-3 with 1:40 remaining the second period. Asplund earned his second assist of the net with a pass under the stick of a Comets defender and Elie blasted the puck into the net. Redmond also had an assist on the goal.

Early in the third period Alex Nylander returned to the ice skating on a line with Dalton Smith and Yannick Veilleux. That’s a downgrade for Smith and Veilleux. Nylander had started the game skating with Victor Olofsson and Rasmus Asplund.

Ivan Kulbakov was the star of the third period stopping point blank attempts by Nylander and just over a minute later from Olofsson. Those could have been two big goals. They were quality chances by both players but also great saves by Kulbakov.

Taylor Leier didn’t earn any points in the game but continues to make plays that have big impacts on the game. The Comets had a scoring chance from the top of the face off circle but Leier dropped to the ice to put his body in front of the puck and prevent a scoring chance. Just as the two chances above could have been big goals this could have been as well.

Scott Wedgewood made big saves as the game went on to keep the Amerks in the game just as Kulbakov did for the Comets. The goalies were a reason the game wasn’t decided in regulation.

Rochester started the overtime session on the power play thanks to a high stick by Reid Gardiner with 1:06 remaining in regulation.

It only took 38 seconds for Zach Redmond to score his league leading ninth game winning goal of the season to win the game for the Rochester Americans. It was the second attempt at a shot and Wayne Simpson had the patience to set him up for it. Victor Olofsson earned a secondary assist on the overtime power play goal.

That extends the Amerks winning streak to four games. Amerks are back in action for a rare Saturday night home game when they host the Belleville Senators.

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Three player moves were made late Friday afternoon by the Buffalo Sabres.

Lawrence Pilut was assigned back to the Amerks from Buffalo

Danny O’Regan and Scott Wilson were called up to the Sabres from the Amerks.

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One other note is that the organization announce that goalie Jonas Johansson has ended his season. He underwent surgery that will prevent from playing again this season. No other details have been provided at this time in regards to what the surgery was for.

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Here’s the game in gifs as they were tweeted. Apologies for the quality, these never turn out well from Utica.