After a lackluster loss Saturday, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers at least had a better effort Sunday in Utica, N.Y.

The result wasnt as good. The Comets Joseph LaBate scored with 40.1 seconds left in the second period, lifting Utica to a 2-1 win at the Aud.

We played hard, Bridgeport coach Brent Thompson said. We competed. The execution was a lot better in the second and third.

In the first, we were on our heels. We were a little slow.

That let the Comets get out to a 1-0 lead on Carter Bancks goal off LaBates setup.

Ryan Pulock answered in the second period, extending his scoring streak to seven games. Thats tied for second-longest in team history by a defenseman, one behind Chris Armstrong (2001-02).

But that was the only Sound Tigers shot of 25 to beat Thatcher Demko. The rookie goalie started for the third consecutive day and won all three, including his first professional shutout on Saturday against Albany.

Thompson wouldve liked to see his team test him more Sunday. The coach juggled both lines and defense pairings in the second half of the game, looking for a spark.

Its just a matter of shooting more and getting to the hard areas more, Thompson said. The games are going to get tighter and tighter as we get toward the playoffs.

Bridgeport has 19 games remaining, and after a comeback win Sunday over Springfield, Hershey matched Sound Tigers 73 points. Theyre tied for fourth in the Atlantic Division, though Bridgeport has two games in hand. The top four teams make the playoffs.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton is in first place, eight points ahead of Bridgeport. Providence beat Lehigh Valley on Sunday to break a tie for second; the Bruins are four points ahead of the Sound Tigers, and the Phantoms are two points up.

After winning 15 out of 16, the Sound Tigers are 2-3-1-0 in the past six. They lost 4-3 in overtime at Rochester on Saturday after they won by the same score in overtime Thursday at Toronto to open the road trip.

mfornabaio@ctpost.com; http://twitter.com/fornabaioctp; http://blog.ctnews.com/fornabaio

COMETS 2, SOUND TIGERS 1

Bridgeport0 1 01

Utica1 1 02

First Period 1, Utica, Bancks 8 (LaBate, Hamilton), 11:41. Penalties Kearns, Bpt (boarding), 1:35; Rowe, Bpt (slashing), 8:28; LaBate, Uti (tripping), 14:42.

Second Period 2, Bridgeport, Pulock 12 (Toews, Winquist), 9:34. 3, Utica, LaBate 4 (Cassels, Robak), 19:19. Penalties Archibald, Uti (boarding), 5:09; Hamilton, Uti (boarding), 9:44; J.Holmstrom, Bpt (cross-checking), 12:50.

Third Period No scoring. Penalties None.

Shots on goal Bridgeport 5-8-1225. Utica 12-6-1028.

Power play opportunities Bridgeport 0 of 3, Utica 0 of 3.

Goaltenders Bridgeport, Halak 14-3-3 (28 shots-26 saves). Utica, Demko 14-11-4 (25-24).

Attendance 3,870. Referees Wilk, Tufts. Linesmen Dussureault, J.Brown.

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Comets deal Sound Tigers second straight loss - Connecticut Post - CT Post