AHL Utica Comets

Comets Stumble in Loss to Syracuse

March 23, 2019 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Utica Comets News Release


Syracuse, N.Y. - The Utica Comets outshot the Syracuse Crunch in decisive fashion on Saturday, but it wasn't enough as the Comets dropped a 6-2 decision at the War Memorial.

Utica fell behind by a pair early in the game, as Syracuse forward Cory Conacher took control of the action with two strikes over a 25-second span in the first few minutes. Conacher's quick attack put the Comets in an early hole, but it would not go unanswered.

Back from injury after missing the last seven, Reid Boucher put the Comets on the board and cut the deficit to one at the 15:10 mark. Tanner Kero worked the puck free on the end wall and tapped it in front to Stefan LeBlanc, who steered a perfect past to Boucher for an easy deposit. The one-goal gap lasted for a little over four minutes, as Alexander Volkov made it 3-1 in favor of the Crunch with under a minute remaining in the first.

Syracuse continued to pour it on to start the second, earning their fourth of the night at 6:27 of the period, marking the end of the night for Michael Leighton. While on a power play moments later, the Crunch poked another one home, generating a game-high 5-1 lead.

37 seconds after the fifth goal from the Crunch, Kero slashed back into their lead with a top-corner-finding backhand. Jesse Graham's shot was slowed down on its way to the net, and Kero spotted the loose puck to swing a backhand over the glove of Eddie Pasquale for his 24th of the season.

Utica continued to throw what they had at Pasquale and the Comets, but it was the Crunch who added to their lead and closed out the Comets. Volkov notched his second of the night at the 12:12 mark of the third, and it created a 6-2 advantage for Syracuse which held through the final horn.

The Comets are back in action Friday, March 30 when they host the Toronto Marlies. Puck drop is at 7 p.m. Fan are encouraged to use the ticket exchange site, StubHub!. The game can be heard on 94.9 KROCK and viewed on AHLTV.

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