UTICA, N.Y. – Thursday night at The Utica Memorial Auditorium saw the sixth longest professional American Hockey League game after the Utica Comets dropped Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals to the Oklahoma City Barons 2-1 in Quadruple overtime.
Jacob Markstrom made some highlight reel saves on his way to recording an AHL career high of 65 saves. 
Stay-at-home defensemen Kent Huskins (1-0-1) scored the Comets lone goal of the game and his first goal of the Calder Cup Playoffs against Richard Bachman who wound up stopping 56 of the Comets 57 shots.
A very uncharacteristic start to the first period left the Comets trailing 12-6 in shots after the first 17 minutes but that didn’t stop them from lighting the lamp just moments later. Darren Archibald set up defensmen Huskins with a drop pass to the high slot and Huskins’ point blank shot flew past Richard Bachman’s glove-side to give the Comets the 1-0 lead. Brandon DeFazio tallied the secondary assist on Huskins second goal with the Comets this year.
With the start of the second stanza also came Oklahoma’s equalizer just past the four-minute mark. Kellen Jones was the go-getter for the Barons as he danced in through both Biega and Ehrhardt and deked his way past Markstrom’s right leg pad to make it a 1-1 game.
And after 60:16 minutes of overtime hockey, Curtis Hamilton netted the game-winning goal off of a give-away in the Comets zone. The puck slipped past Markstrom’s right pad, which ended the game with a final score of 2-1.
Neither team will have much time to rest because Game 2 will be taking place once again at The AUD on Friday night just before both teams travel to Oklahoma City for Games 3,4 and 5 (if necessary).
Three Stars: 1. OKC– Richard Bachman (56 Saves, Win) 2. UTI – Jacob Markstrom (66 Saves) 3. OKC– Curtis Hamilton (1 Goal)
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