PROVIDENCE (Interstat) — David Rittich stopped 20 of 21 shots, and the visiting Utica Comets opened the season with a 2-1 victory over the Providence Bruins on Friday at Amica Mutual Pavilion. Utica improved to 1-0-0. Providence dropped to 0-1-0. The announced attendance was 7,378. The Comets were the visiting team, and the Bruins were the home team.

Gabe Klassen gave Utica the lead 4:31 into the first period. Ryan Schmelzer and Vladislav Kolyachonok assisted on the play. Klassen, a 5-foot-10, 178-pound forward, finished with one goal and four shots on goal. Anton Silaev was called for holding at 8:04 of the first period. The Comets carried a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.

Ben Steeves made it 2-0 at 17:59 of the second period. Matyas Melovsky and Lenni Hämeenaho picked up the assists. Steeves, a 5-foot-9, 170-pound forward, had one goal, one shot and two penalty minutes. Kolyachonok, a 6-foot-1, 203-pound defenseman, recorded one assist, three shots and four penalty minutes. Schmelzer, 6-foot-2 and 188 pounds, had one assist and three shots, while Melovsky, 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds, added one assist and one shot. Hämeenaho, 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, also had an assist. Justin Pearson, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound forward, put two shots on goal for Utica.

The second period included a series of penalties. Kolyachonok was called for holding the stick at 1:59. Tobie Paquette-Bisson of Providence was sent off for interference at 4:29. Steeves received a hooking minor at 8:30. Brian Halonen of Providence was penalized for delay of game at 9:35. Kolyachonok then received a cross-checking minor at 14:14. Steeves scored less than four minutes later to give Utica a two-goal cushion.

Providence cut the deficit when Brendan Gaunce scored at 5:45 of the third period. Ivan Ivan and Joey Abate assisted. Gaunce, a 6-foot-3, 219-pound center, had one goal and three shots. Ivan, a 6-foot, 190-pound forward, recorded one assist. Rittich, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound goaltender from Jihlava, Czechia, earned the win. He was the top star for Utica and finished with 20 saves on 21 shots. Utica held on through the final minutes. Providence’s goal made it a one-goal game.

Utica finished with four minor penalties, while Providence had two. The game included six minor penalties overall. The penalties gave Providence four power-play chances and Utica two. Kolyachonok served two of Utica’s penalties. Steeves and Silaev each served one. Paquette-Bisson and Halonen each served one for Providence. The Comets improved to 1-0-0, while the Bruins fell to 0-1-0.

Klassen’s four shots led Utica’s listed skaters. Kolyachonok and Schmelzer each had three shots. Pearson added two shots. Melovsky and Steeves each recorded one shot. Utica’s listed skaters combined for 14 shots on goal. For Providence, Gaunce had three shots. Ivan Ivan recorded one assist. Joey Abate also assisted on Gaunce’s goal. Hämeenaho recorded one assist for Utica.

Utica’s upcoming schedule includes Rochester at home, Belleville on the road, Laval at home, Rochester on the road, Providence on the road, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at home, Brantford at home, Syracuse at home, Rochester at home and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on the road. Providence’s upcoming slate includes Springfield at home, Hartford at home, Charlotte at home, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at home, Hershey on the road, Hershey on the road, Hartford on the road, Utica at home, Springfield on the road and Lehigh Valley on the road. The Comets are set to face Rochester next, while Providence is set to face Springfield next.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Providence 4, Utica 3. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Providence with a 58.1 percent probability to win. The projections were made before the game.