The Comets scored four times unanswered in the opening period after a bright enough start from the Marlies that saw them record the first three shots of the game.
First Period
Utica struck inside two minutes, as missed defensive assignments from the Marlies tracking back afforded Adam Gaudette too much time down the left wing and Andreas Borgman left Darren Archibald untouched at the back post to tap in from the blue paint.
That set the tone for the remainder of the period as the Marlies invited pressure with individual mistakes and poor decision making.