
Crunch Topped by Comets, 5-4
January 16, 2019 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Syracuse Crunch News Release
UTICA, N.Y. - After going down by three, the Syracuse Crunch climbed back within one twice, but couldn't overtake the Utica Comets in a 5-4 loss tonight at the Adirondack Bank Center.
The loss puts the Crunch on a five-game winless streak as the team moves to 21-13-2-1 on the season. Utica now has a 4-2 lead in the 12-game season series.
Eddie Pasquale stopped 22-of-27 shots in net for the Crunch before being relieved by Martin Ouellette to start the third period. Ouellette went on to turn aside both shots he faced. Ivan Kulbakov made 30 saves in net for the Comets. Both teams went 1-for-7 on the power play.
The Comets jumped out to a 1-0 lead just 25 seconds into the game. After Utica forced a turnover at the right boards, Reid Boucher grabbed the puck and dished it over for Tom Pyatt to redirect it in from the left circle. Utica doubled their lead on the power play with 1:19 remaining in the opening frame. Tanner Kero threw the puck towards the net for Jonathan Dahlen to stuff in. Boucher tallied the secondary helper.
The Comets built a three-goal lead three minutes into the middle stanza. After Zack MacEwen's right wing shot ricocheted off the end boards, Carter Bancks picked it up in the left circle and fired. His shot was redirected by Adam Gaudette in the slot.
Syracuse pulled within one with back-to-back goals 58 seconds apart. At the 3:59 mark, Alex Barre-Boulet jammed the puck in during a battle out front. The assist went to Carter Verhaeghe. Less than a minute later, Gabriel Dumont wrapped around from behind the cage and tucked one past Kulbakov with the help of Boris Katchouk and Barre-Boulet.
Utica rebuilt a three-goal lead with two more markers in the second period. Dahlen potted his second of the night at 5:38 when get got a lead pass from MacEwen and went top shelf on a mini breakway. With 4:27 remaining in the frame, Kole Lind netted a wrister from the slot. Dylan Blujus and Gaudette earned points on the tally.
The Crunch added two more early in the third to come back within one for a second time. Just 1:02 into the period, Dumont received the puck from Taylor Raddysh in the neutral zone, sped across the blueline and scored his second of the night. Six minutes later, Alex Volkov tipped Cal Foote's right point shot on the man-advantage. Dennis Yan recorded the secondary helper. The team was unable to build momentum for a comeback and fell to the Comets for the second consecutive game.
The Crunch return home to host the Belleville Senators on Friday at 7 p.m.
Single game tickets and packages for the 2018-19 season are on sale now and can be purchased in person at the Crunch office located inside the War Memorial Arena at 800 S. State St. in Syracuse, by calling the office at 315-473-4444 or online through Ticketmaster. For the latest Crunch news, visit www.syracusecrunch.com or follow the club on Facebook (www.facebook.com/syracusecrunch), Twitter (@SyracuseCrunch) and Instagram (@syracusecrunch) using #SyrCrunch.
Crunchables: The Crunch have given up five or more goals four times this season...Martin Ouellette made his Crunch debut tonight.
American Hockey League Stories from January 16, 2019
- Fritz scores twice in Bridgeport's third straight loss - Bridgeport Islanders
- Admirals Fall in Manitoba - Milwaukee Admirals
- Sproul Wins It in Overtime for Hershey - Hershey Bears
- Checkers Blow by Bridgeport 6-4 - Charlotte Checkers
- Senators Beaten by Special Teams in Laval - Belleville Senators
- Young Guns Lead Comets to Victory over Crunch - Utica Comets
- Devils Collect Point in 1-0 OT Loss to Bears - Binghamton Devils
- T-Birds Offense Can't Find Touch in Road Loss to Phantoms - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Crunch Topped by Comets, 5-4 - Syracuse Crunch
- Griffins Ink Spezia to PTO - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Minnesota Wild Acquires Pontus Aberg from Anaheim Ducks - Iowa Wild
- Anaheim Ducks Recall Three from Gulls - San Diego Gulls
- Moldenhauer and Thomas Sent to Tulsa - San Diego Gulls
- Admirals Set Date for 2nd Annual Great Skate Event - Milwaukee Admirals
- Winter Returns Just in Time for the Great Skate Winterfest this Weekend - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Saturday's Game at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Moved to 3:05 p.m. - Hershey Bears
- Saturday Game Time Changed to 3:05 p.m. - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Wolf Pack Ink Terrence Wallin to PTO - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Checkers' Annual NASCAR Night Is Saturday - Charlotte Checkers
- Hogs Return Friday for Fleece Blanket Giveaway, $2 Bud Light - Rockford IceHogs
- Heat, Condors Open Two-Game Set Wednesday - Stockton Heat
- Jets Recall Cam Schilling from Manitoba - Manitoba Moose
- Dallas Stars Reassign Right Wing Erik Condra - Texas Stars
- Drink Specials Tonight at the Condors - Bakersfield Condors
- Game Day Build-Up: Senators at Rocket, January 16 - Belleville Senators
- Game Preview: Bears at Devils, 7:05 p.m. - Hershey Bears
- T-Birds Road Swing Continues Wednesday at Lehigh Valley - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Texas Trip Reaches Tough Conclusion as Rampage Edge Hogs - Rockford IceHogs
- MacIntyre Gives Rampage 11th Straight Home Win - San Antonio Rampage
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.
Other Recent Syracuse Crunch Stories
- Syracuse Crunch Sign Defenseman Matteo Pietroniro to One-Year AHL Contract
- Syracuse Crunch Captain Gabriel Dumont Announces Retirement
- Four Syracuse Crunch Alumni Named to Preliminary 2026 Olympics Rosters
- Syracuse Crunch Sign Defenseman Chris Harpur to One-Year AHL Contract
- Crunch Shut out by Amerks, 4-0, in Game 3

