LAVAL – Goaltender Thatcher Demko stopped 35 shots and the Utica Comets defeated the Laval Rocket 5-1 Wednesday night in American Hockey League play at Place Bell.

Cole Cassels and Adam Comrie scored one goal and one assist each for the Comets (16-13-7), who had at least one point in a fourth straight game (3-0-1). Marco Roy, Philip Holm and Andrew Cherniwchan also scored, while Patrick Wiercioch collected two assists.

Chris Terry was the Rocket’s only scorer. The Rocket have a 15-17-7 record, and have lost three of their last four games. Michael McNiven made 25 saves for the Montreal Canadiens’ AHL farm team.

Terry opened the scoring at 7:12 of the first period, but the Comets rebounded with three goals on four power-play opportunities. The Rocket was 0-in-5 in power-play chances.

Comets 5, Rocket 1

First Period

1. Laval, Terry 19 (Scherbak, Cracknell) 7:12.

2. Utica, Roy 2 (Brisebois, Arseneau) 8:30.

3. Utica, Holm 7 (R. Boucher, Cassels) 9:43 (pp).

4. Utica, Comrie 2 (Wiercioch, Blujus) 17:34 (pp).

Penalties — Bourque Lav (holding) 9:32; Veilleux Lav (boarding) 17:24; Sautner Uti (cross-checking) 17:48.

Second Period

5. Utica, Cherniwchan 2 (Chatfield, Dziurzynski) 2:25.

Penalties — Roy Uti (slashing) 15:31; Demko Uti (delay of game) 17:18.

Third Period

6. Utica, Cassels 3 (Wiercioch, Comrie) 16:29 (pp).

Penalties — Gelinas Lav (hooking) 6:29; MacEwen Uti (holding the stick) 8:18; Cracknell Lav (slashing) 14:25; MacEwen Uti (cross-checking) 14:25; Audette Lav (roughing) 15:06; Broll Lav (unsportsmanlike conduct) 17:21; Brisebois Uti (slashing) 18:52.

Shots on goal by:

Utica 14 6 10 — 30

Laval 9 16 12 — 37

Goal — Utica: Demko (W, 13-6-2-3). Laval: McNiven (L, 5-6-0-1).

Power plays (goals-chances) — Utica: 3-4; Laval: 0-5.

Referees — Pierre Lambert, Olivier Gouin. Linesmen — Benoit Martineau, Cory Piche.

Attendance — 5,655.