Demko’s goaltending heroics not enough for Comets

TORONTO — In a game that featured everything from a standout goaltending performance by Thatcher Demko to a last-minute tying goal that led to an overtime game-winner that wasn’t, the Utica Comets couldn’t get the one thing they needed Saturday — a win.

The Comets lost Game 1 of their best-of-five American Hockey League playoff series with the Toronto Marlies.

“It’s a good starting point for us,” said Demko, who stopped 44 of 47 shots in the Comets’ 3-2 overtime loss. “There are a lot good things we can pull from this one, but it comes down to a tough call in overtime. That ends up being the difference.” Ah yes. The tough call.

Midway through the first overtime period, after Marlies goalie Garret Sparks made a game-saving save off Cam Darcy, the Comets’ Cole Cassels fired a shot from the high slot and immediately started to cel- ebrate what he believed to be the game-winner. After a lengthy video review, it was determined the puck didn’t cross the goal-line.

The Marlies’ Chris Mueller then scored the game-winner on a power play. The Comets had two power plays of their own in overtime.

“I thought I heard it hit the back of the padding (in the net),” said Cassels. “Obviously the officials saw something different.”

Over to you Sparks.

“As I was laying across the goalline, I could feel the puck hit me in the side of face and it came to rest under my hand,” said Sparks. “Every time I’ve played hockey, that’s not a goal, so I don’t know why they were celebrating.”

The late drama punctuated a game that saw the Comets come back twice from one-goal deficits in the third period, the first on Zack McEwen’s power-play goal and the second on Michael Chaput’s goal with 36 seconds left in regulation.

Game 2 is Sunday in Toronto and head coach Trent Cull has some decisions to make on his lineup. Canucks prospect Jonathan Dahlen, who joined the team last week and picked up a goal and an assist in the last game of the regular season, was a healthy scratch for Game 1.

“We’re looking at a couple of things, but I’ll take my time on that,” Cull said.