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Syracuse Crunch

Crunch head in to All-Star break on positive note with shootout win at Utica

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by Steven DiOssi | @StevenDiOssi | Like us on Facebook
January 28, 2017

The Syracuse Crunch defeated the Utica Comets 4-3 in a shootout at Utica Memorial Auditorium on Saturday.

Joel Vermin, Adam Comrie and Dominik Masin tallied goals in regulation before Cory Conacher scored the game-winning goal in the third round of the shootout. The Crunch secured back-to-back victories for the first time since a three-game winning streak from Dec. 7 to Dec. 10 and are now 3-3-1 in the 12-game Galaxy Cup season series against the Comets. Syracuse improved to 22-12-4-5 overall on the season and maintain their lead in the North Division with 53 points.

Adam Wilcox stopped 5-of-7 shots he faced before he was relieved by Kristers Gudlevskis at 7:38 of the second period. Gudlevskis made 11 saves and stopped all three Utica attempts in the shootout to secure his seventh win of the year. Comets goaltender Thatcher Demko made 26 saves on 29 shots and was beaten once in the shootout on three tries. The Crunch were held scoreless in five power play opportunities but went 5-for-6 on the penalty kill.

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The Crunch got off to a fast start in the contest, building a two-goal lead just 3:38 into the opening period and outshooting the Comets by a 9-4 margin through twenty minutes of play.

Slater Koekkoek was called for a tripping penalty at the 1:03 mark, giving the Comets their first opportunity with the man advantage. Just 46 seconds into the ensuing power play, Vermin carried the puck into the offensive zone and cut into the slot from the right circle before firing a shot that beat Demko to open the scoring. Vermin’s ninth goal of the season was unassisted and was the second shorthanded goal the Crunch have scored in the past two games.

The Crunch made it a two-goal game when Comrie tallied his fifth of the year at 3:38 of the period. Henri Ikonen controlled the puck near the Comets’ goal line and fed a pass back to Comrie who fired a hard slap shot past Demko. Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond also added an assist on the goal.

The Comets cut the Syracuse lead to one on a goal by Carter Bancks at 17:11 of the first period.

The Crunch carried a 2-1 lead into the middle frame but this was short-lived, as Utica defenseman Even McEneny tied it up when he beat Wilcox 7:38 into the period.

Syracuse killed off a Conacher roughing penalty before regaining the lead on Masin’s second goal of the season at 13:36 of the frame. Conacher tapped a pass from the right circle to Masin who was parked in the high slot. Conacher jumped to stay out of the way of Masin’s wrist shot, which found its way into the back of the net. Matthew Peca also had a helper on the goal.

The Crunch were unable to capitalize on two power play chances early in the third period before Letourneau-Leblond was called for slashing at 8:30 to give the Comets one of their own. Utica defenseman Jordan Subban took advantage of the 5-on-4, as he registered his 10th goal of the season to tie the contest at 10:01 of the period.

The game remained knotted at three goals a side at the end of regulation and the Crunch headed to the extra session for the 13th time this season.

Syracuse controlled the overtime, outshooting the Comets 3-0 and killing off a Yanni Gourde tripping penalty at the 3:38 mark, but were unable to find the back of the net and the game entered a shootout.

Gourde and Jeremy Morin were unable to score on their shootout attempts before Conacher beat Demko as the fist shooter in the third round. Gudlevskis stopped Comets forward Curtis Valk to secure an important win for the Crunch over their North Division rivals.

Syracuse has now earned five points in the first three games of their six-game road trip — a crucial point of the second half of the season as the Crunch seek to remain atop the North Division despite a number of roster changes as players continue to be recalled to aid the injury-riddled Tampa Bay Lightning.

Following the AHL All-Star break, the Crunch continue their road trip when they faceoff against the Albany Devils on Thursday.

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