The Vancouver Canucks’ top minor league affiliate the Utica Comets finished off their regular season on Saturday night with a 3-2 victory over the Adirondack Flames in the 12th meeting of the season between the two New York rivals.  

Canucks prospects Darren Archibald, Adam Clendenning and Alex Friesen all scored as the Comets pulled ahead to a 3-0 lead.  With 30 seconds left the Comets had to withstand an onslaught of goals against that almost saw the Flames tie up the game.

Continue past the jump to read about the outcome of the game and what lies ahead for the Comets.

Jacob Markstrom held strong on Saturday and the Comets were able to earn 2 points on
the night, finishing the regular season with 103 points, a record of 47-20-7-2.  The Comets managed to earn 2 more points than the Vancouver Canucks, and in 8 less games.

With this victory the Comets are able to add another banner to the newly renovated Aud, which will hang beside their recently acquired North Division banner, as the club finished the regular season as the AHL’s Western Conference Champions.  

As the Comets look towards the Calder Cup they have secured home-ice advantage through the first three rounds. Combined with their strong possession numbers, the Comets look to have a good shot at a long Calder Cup run.

Their first-round opponent will either be the Toronto Marlies or the Chicago Wolves – the results will be known after today’s games have all finished.  The first round of the AHL’s playoffs are a best-of-5 series and either the first 2 games are on the road, or a 2-2-1 series – depending on if the opponents are a bus ride or a plane ride away.

As the Comets start the playoffs we will have more detailed coverage of the teams including statistical breakdowns.  The Toronto Marlies were one of the worst possession teams in the first half of the year, but a shift in philosophy influenced by Kyle Dubas, and the additions of William Nylander, TJ Brennan, and Brendan Leipsic have made them strong contenders.