Syracuse Crunch Defeat Utica Comets, 5-3
Published on November 26, 2025 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Syracuse Crunch News Release
Syracuse Crunch center Conor Geekie receives congratulations from the bench
(Syracuse Crunch, Credit: Jeff Pexton)
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The Syracuse Crunch defeated the Utica Comets, 5-3, tonight at the Adirondack Bank Center.
The Crunch and the Comets traded goals in the opening frame and went into the first break tied at two. Syracuse then scored two goals in the second period and one halfway through the third to take a 5-2 lead. The Comets potted a late one to attempt a comeback in the last couple of minutes, but the Crunch held on for their third consecutive win.
Conor Geekie led Syracuse skaters with two goals and an assist and Brendan Furry notched two goals. Matteo Pietroniro tallied a goal and an assist while Tristan Allard and Jakob Pelletier each recorded two helpers. Four other Syracuse skaters each added an assist.
The Crunch improve to 12-6-0-0 on the season and 4-0-0-0 in the 12-game season series with the Comets.
Brandon Halverson earned the win turning aside 19-of-22 shots in net for the Crunch. Comets goaltender Nico Daws put a stop to 19-of-24 shots. Syracuse was held scoreless on four power play opportunities while keeping Utica off the board on two man-advantages.
The Comets were first on the board 6:26 into the opening frame. Jonathan Gruden picked the puck up at the right point, skated down the inside of the right circle and potted it from in front of the crease. Conor Geekie responded and knotted the score just a minute later. His original shot went off the post and ricocheted out to Chris Harpur. He sent the puck back to Geekie who fired a one-timer off the post and in.
Brendan Furry doubled the Crunch lead, 2-1, as he rushed out of the penalty box with 5:40 to play in the first period. Jakob Pelletier fed the puck from the left circle across the slot to Geekie. He then dished it to Furry who sent it home from the right goal line. Utica tied the score, 2-2, in the final few minutes of the frame. Xavier Parent sent a drop pass to Mike Hardman in the right circle and he potted a shot from there.
Geekie notched his second goal of the night at the 7:18 mark of the middle frame to put the Crunch up, 3-2. He skated through center ice, passed the puck to Pelletier who fired it back for Geekie to send in with a one-timer from the right circle. Matteo Pietroniro gave Syracuse a 4-2 lead a few minutes later. He shot the puck from the left circle and it bounced off a few bodies in front of the next and went in.
Furry recorded his second of the night halfway through the final frame to extend the Crunch lead, 5-2. Pietroniro set him up in front of the net, the puck settled in the crease and Furry swiped the puck in on his second effort. The Comets' late comeback effort ultimately fell short after Brian Halonen scored a shorthanded goal to make it 5-3 with 1:50 left in regulation.
Next up, the Crunch face off against the Americans for a Black Friday matchup in Rochester.
Ticket packages for the 2025-26 season are on sale now and can be purchased in person at the Crunch office located inside the Upstate Medical University Arena at Onondaga County War Memorial 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), X (@SyracuseCrunch) and Instagram (@syracusecrunch).
Crunchables: Romain Rodzinski made his AHL debut tonight...Conor Geekie recorded his fourth career multi-goal game in the American Hockey League...Brendan Furry had his first career two-goal game tonight.
Images from this story
American Hockey League Stories from November 26, 2025
- Ads Set Season High with Seven Goals in Win over Iowa - Milwaukee Admirals
- Milwaukee Hands Iowa 7-2 Defeat - Iowa Wild
- Penguins Power Past Bears, 6-3 - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Griffins Outlast Stars in Back-And-Forth Affair - Texas Stars
- Senators Finish Road Trip with 5-1 Loss to Moose - Belleville Senators
- Bears Open Homestand with 6-3 Loss to Penguins - Hershey Bears
- Wolves Throttle IceHogs 8-4 to Snap 3-Game Skid - Chicago Wolves
- Monsters Serve up 3-1 Victory against Americans - Cleveland Monsters
- Syracuse Crunch Defeat Utica Comets, 5-3 - Syracuse Crunch
- Wolf Pack Lose 6-3 to Thunderbirds - Hartford Wolf Pack
- T-Birds' Offense Erupts to Topple Wolf Pack, 6-3 - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Comets Fall in Feisty Affair to Crunch, 5-3 - Utica Comets
- Lysell, Dipietro Lead P-Bruins Past Marlies - Providence Bruins
- Anaheim Ducks Recall Ville Husso from San Diego - San Diego Gulls
- Boulton and Sevigny to Reading - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Checkers Partner with WCCB Charlotte for Seven TV Games - Charlotte Checkers
- How the West Was Won Show at Acrisure Arena Postponed to February 14, 2026 - Coachella Valley Firebirds
- New York Rangers Assign F Juuso Pärssinen to Wolf Pack, Recall D Connor Mackey - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Capitals Recall Bogdan Trineyev from Hershey - Hershey Bears
- Bears Recall Goaltender Seth Eisele - Hershey Bears
- Bay of Quinte Students Shake CAA Arena During Belleville Sens Inaugural School Day Game - Belleville Senators
- Griffins to Host Winning Wednesday - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Game Preview: Bears vs. Penguins, 7 p.m. - Hershey Bears
- Onyebuchi Scores in 200th AHL Game, But Tucson Falls 5-2 - Tucson Roadrunners
- Tralmaks and Shine Record Hat Tricks in Griffins' Victory over Texas - Grand Rapids Griffins
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 Defeat Utica Comets, 5-3
- Tampa Bay Lightning Reassign Forward Cooper Flinton to Syracuse Crunch from Orlando Solar Bears
- Syracuse Crunch Weekly - Vol. 32, No. 7
- Syracuse Crunch Sign Defenseman Romain Rodzinski to PTO
- Syracuse Crunch to Host Ogre Night December 13
