Crunch Clinch Home Ice in North Division Semifinals in 5-4 Overtime Loss to Comets
April 15, 2023 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Syracuse Crunch News Release
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The Syracuse Crunch fell to the Utica Comets, 5-4, in overtime tonight at the Upstate Medical University Arena.
Despite the loss, the Crunch finish in second place in the North Division and have clinched home ice in the North Division Semifinals. Syracuse completes the 2022-23 regular season with a 35-26-7-4 record and 81 points. They won the 14-game season against the Comets, 8-3-2-1.
Crunch goaltender Max Lagace turned aside 27-of-32 shots. Isaac Poulter recorded the win turning aside 30-of-34 between the pipes for the Comets.
The Syracuse power play went 1-for-4, while Utica was 1-for-5.
The Crunch opened scoring just 1:13 into the game. Phil Myers skated the puck down the right side and centered it for Simon Ryfors to poke across the goal line.
Utica evened the score early in the second period. Robbie Russo sent the puck along the blue line to Zack Hayes who scored with a long wrist shot from the left point. Syracuse regained their lead with a power-play goal four minutes later. Gabriel Dumont won the face off in the right circle and sent the puck back to Alex Barre-Boulet. He quickly dished the puck over for Gage Goncalves to send in with a wrister. The Crunch built up a two-goal lead at 11:20 during 4-on-4 play when Barre- Boulet fired in a one-timer from the right circle off a feed from Ryfors.
The Comets stole one back with a power-play goal of their own 3:40 into the final frame. Max Lagace made the save on Ryan Schmelzer's shot but Nolan Stevens found the rebound and shoved it into the net. At 7:48, Rudolfs Balcers delayed on a shot and lifted the puck over Poulter to put Syracuse back up by two.
Utica had late third-period rally to tie the game and force overtime. Simon Nemec scored during a scramble out front at the 16:51 mark, then Graeme Clarke knotted the score with a left circle shot just over a minute later. The Comets completed the comeback when Reilly Walsh potted the game-winner 3:15 into the overtime frame.
Crunchables: Simon Ryfors has six goals in the last four games against the Comets...Alex Barre-Boulet has set a new single-season franchise record with 84 points.
• Discuss this story on the American Hockey League message board...
American Hockey League Stories from April 15, 2023
- Simon Lundmark Records Game-Winning Goal in Moose Win - Manitoba Moose
- Colorado Closes Out Regular Season With 3-1 Triumph Over Gulls - Colorado Eagles
- Texas Clinches Central Division Crown with McKenzie's Overtime Winner - Texas Stars
- Griffins Drop Final Game of the Season in 4-1 Loss to Chicago - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Reichel Scores Twice in Hogs' 3-2 Loss - Rockford IceHogs
- Iowa Picks up Crucial Point in 2-1 Overtime Loss at Texas - Iowa Wild
- Durandeau Scores Twice, Andreoff Records AHL-Leading 37th Goal in Season Finale - Bridgeport Islanders
- Wolves Ground Griffins 4-1 - Chicago Wolves
- Frank Nets Hat Trick in Bears' Finale for 6-4 Win Over Phantoms - Hershey Bears
- Newcomer Brendan Furry Thrives in Season Finale - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Crunch Clinch Home Ice in North Division Semifinals in 5-4 Overtime Loss to Comets - Syracuse Crunch
- Hofer Blanks Hartford Again, Seals Home-Ice for T-Birds' First Round Series - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Wolf Pack Outshoot Thunderbirds 35-21, But Fall 1-0 in Season Finale - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Wild Season Finale Ends with Penguins' Overtime Loss - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Cederqvist Hat Trick Not Enough in 4-3 Loss to Monsters - Rochester Americans
- Four Straight Tallies Help P-Bruins Top Islanders - Providence Bruins
- Comets Mount Epic Comeback Victory In Overtime Against Crunch - Utica Comets
- Bitetto's OT Heroics Lift Checkers over Penguins - Charlotte Checkers
- It's Game Day - CGY at ABB - Calgary Wranglers
- IceHogs Announce Team Awards, Philp Named MVP - Rockford IceHogs
- Toronto Marlies Host Belleville Senators in Final Game of Regular Season - Toronto Marlies
- Monsters Cap Final Road Trip of Season with 4-3 Win over Amerks - Cleveland Monsters
- Abbotsford Canucks Announce 2022.23 Fan Voted Award Winners - Abbotsford Canucks
- Galchenyuk Returns to Eagles, Mayhew Recalled from Utah - Colorado Eagles
- Moose Announce 2023 Central Division Semifinals Home Schedule - Manitoba Moose
- Roy Sommer Announces his Intention to Retire Following the 2022-23 Season - San Diego Gulls
- Pre-Game Report: Wolf Pack Visit Thunderbirds to Close out Regular Season - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Game Preview: Iowa Wild at Texas Stars - Iowa Wild
- Game Preview: Bears vs. Phantoms, 7 p.m. - Hershey Bears
- Toronto Marlies Return Home for Battle against Belleville Senators - Toronto Marlies
- Wranglers Drop Second Straight to Canucks - Calgary Wranglers
- Game #72 - San Jose Barracuda at Tucson Roadrunners - Tucson Roadrunners
- Bridgeport Islanders Finish 2022-23 Season Tonight in Providence - Bridgeport Islanders
- IceHogs Aim to Clinch Playoff Berth in Final Regular Season Home Game - Rockford IceHogs
- Canucks Score Four Unanswered in 4-1 Victory Over League Leading Calgary Wranglers - Abbotsford Canucks
- Roadrunners' Comeback Falls Short in Series Opener with San Jose on Friday - Tucson Roadrunners
- San Diego Stopped at Colorado, 4-1 - San Diego Gulls
- Silver Knights Triumph Over Reign in First Game of Back-to-Back - Henderson Silver Knights
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.
