Comets Stay Hot, Beat the Crunch 4-2
February 7, 2025 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Utica Comets News Release
Syracuse, NY - Utica traveled to Syracuse on Friday afternoon for the seventh meeting between the two teams this season. The Comets welcomed back Seamus Casey, who had not played since mid-December, while Isaac Poulter got the start in net. Utica put together a gritty performance, overcoming two deficits and scoring twice in the third period to secure a 4-2 victory. They have now won nine of their last 14 games.
In the first period, the Comets controlled play through the opening six minutes, but the Crunch struck first. On their first shot on goal, a loose puck found the stick of Jack Finley, who buried the rebound to make it 1-0. Utica battled back late in the period. After coming up empty on a four-minute power play, Adam Beckman fired a slap shot past Matt Tomkins to tie the game at one.
Both teams found the back of the net in the second period. Midway through, Utica took consecutive penalties, and Syracuse capitalized on Conor Sheary's 10th goal of the season. Sheary collected the puck at the top of the left circle, fired a shot, and followed up his own rebound to beat Poulter. Utica answered in the final minute of the period when Tobie Bisson attempted to clear the puck for the Crunch, but it found the stick of Brian Halonen in the slot. Halonen fired a shot through Tomkins' legs to even the score at 2-2.
The third period remained deadlocked until Xavier Parent broke the tie with six minutes to play. He took a breakout pass from Max Willman and ripped a shot past Tomkins to give Utica the lead. Ryan Schmelzer sealed the victory with an empty-net goal in the final minute, and the Comets skated away with a 4-2 win.
Next up is Retro Night tomorrow at the Adirondack Bank Center, where Utica will honor the Mohawk Valley Stars against the Belleville Senators at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at uticacomets.com/tickets.
• Discuss this story on the American Hockey League message board...
American Hockey League Stories from February 7, 2025
- More Extra Hockey Phantoms Down Monsters in Shootout - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- The Canucks Cashed in In Overtime, Defeating the Eagles 5-4 - Abbotsford Canucks
- Rally Falls Short in 5-4 OT Loss to Abbotsford - Colorado Eagles
- Griffins Blanked by Admirals, Undergo Third Straight Shutout - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Levi Backstops Amerks to Fifth Straight Win in Return from All-Star Break - Rochester Americans
- Stars Power Past IceHogs 6-3 with Four Third Period Goals - Texas Stars
- Penguins Strand Islanders, 3-0 - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Stars' Big 3rd Period Sinks Hogs in Texas, 6-3 - Rockford IceHogs
- Monsters Edged 3-2 in a Shootout by Phantoms - Cleveland Monsters
- Wolf Pack Lose Seventh in a Row 3-0 to Checkers - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Penguins Blank Islanders - Bridgeport Islanders
- Crunch Downed by Comets, 4-2 - Syracuse Crunch
- Zherenko Superb as T-Birds Extend Point Streak to 6 - Springfield Thunderbirds
- P-Bruins Take Two Points Against Thunderbirds in Shootout - Providence Bruins
- Black's 20 Saves Help Checkers Hand Hartford 3-0 Defeat - Charlotte Checkers
- Comets Stay Hot, Beat the Crunch 4-2 - Utica Comets
- Reign Announce 5 PM Start Time for Monarchs Night - Ontario Reign
- Tampa Bay Lightning Recall Forward Dylan Duke from Syracuse Crunch - Syracuse Crunch
- Gaucher Assigned to Phantoms - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Preds Acquire Friedman from Vancouver - Milwaukee Admirals
- Forward Zac Funk Re-Assigned to Stingrays - Hershey Bears
- Checkers Assign Mack Guzda to Savannah - Charlotte Checkers
- Bears Ink Defenseman Andrew Perrott to AHL Deal - Hershey Bears
- Stars Reassign Forward Matthew Seminoff to Idaho - Texas Stars
- Preview: Phantoms vs. Monsters, Game #45 - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Game #42 Preview: Tucson Roadrunners (19-19-2-1) vs San Jose Barracuda (23-13-2-3) - Tucson Roadrunners
- Game Preview: Condors v Wolves, 7 p.m. - Bakersfield Condors
- Wolf Pack Return from All-Star Break to Battle Checkers - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Blues Assign F MacKenzie MacEachern to T-Birds - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Tampa Bay Lightning Reassign Forward Conor Sheary to Syracuse Crunch - Syracuse Crunch
- Preview: Islanders at Penguins - Bridgeport Islanders
- IceHogs Look to Carry Momentum into Texas - Rockford IceHogs
- Game Day Preview - CGY at HSK - Calgary Wranglers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
