The Marlies‘ magic number for playoff qualification is now down to eight. Sitting in third place, they remain seven points clear of both Cleveland and Belleville.
First Period
The Utica Comets — entering the night knowing they need to run the table for the remainder of the season to give themselves any chance of qualifying for the post-season — got off to a fast start to the game, with Hutchinson forced into four good saves inside the opening 3:30 of play.
Even Toronto’s first power play of the game shortly after failed to halt the Comets’ momentum as a mistake from debutant Colt Conrad resulted in a fantastic shorthanded chance for Brendan Gaunce, who was stonewalled by Hutchinson and went on to make 10 saves through the opening frame to ensure the game was scoreless at the first intermission.