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Syracuse Crunch

Crunch close out weekend with second consecutive victory

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by Steven DiOssi | @StevenDiOssi | Like us on Facebook
February 12, 2017

The Syracuse Crunch capped their third three-in-three of the season by defeating the Utica Comets 3-2 at Utica Memorial Auditorium on Sunday.

Adam Erne tallied his third goal in two games since returning from injury, while Yanni Gourde added his league-leading fourth shorthanded goal of the season. Joel Vermin potted the game-winner as the Crunch improved to 25-15-4-5 on the season. They earned four of a possible six points in their past three games and lead the North Division with 59 points.

Kristers Gudlevskis earned his second consecutive victory by stopping 39-of-41 shots he faced, while Thatcher Demko made 14 saves for the Comets. The Crunch were held scoreless in three power play opportunities and the Comets converted on 1-of-5 opportunities with the man advantage.

The Crunch opened the scoring when Erne potted his 11th goal of the year at 6:54 of the first period. Mathieu Brodeur fired a low shot towards the Utica net and Demko made the initial save. However, Erne was parked just outside the crease and backhanded it past Demko for his third goal since his return to the lineup on Saturday. Slater Koekkoek also was credited with an assist on the play.

Erne has now tallied three goals and an assist in his first two games back from a fractured foot injury he suffered while playing with the Tampa Bay Lightning in January.

The Crunch maintained a one-goal lead through the first period, despite being outshot by an 15-8 margin.

Syracuse was unable to score on a power play early in the middle frame before Dominik Masin was called for interference at 4:47. The Crunch took a two-goal lead on the penalty kill when Gourde netted his 18th goal of the season at 5:52. Cory Conacher fed the puck to Gourde who carried it into the offensive zone along the right wing and wristed a shot that beat Demko on his blocker side. Gourde has paced all Crunch players in goal-scoring this season, while Conacher leads the team in both assists (32) and points (42).

Conacher has tied his career-high nine game points streak — tallying four goals and 10 assists in that span.

Utica began their fourth power play of the game when Jonathan Racine was taken off for high-sticking at 8:48. The Comets took advantage of the opportunity when Cody Kunyk fired a shot towards the Syracuse net that was tipped in the crease by Borna Rendulic past Gudlevskis at 10:12 of the period.

The Crunch regained a two-goal cushion when Vermin scored his 11th of the season at 13:25. He received a pass from Matthew Peca near the left boards and carried the puck in towards Demko all alone. As he skated in on Demko, Vermin stickhandled widely to the right, shifting the puck to his backhand and sending it over a sprawling Demko and into the net.

The Crunch held a 3-1 lead through two periods and had registered 16 shots on goal, while Gudelvskis had been beaten just once on 33 shots he had faced up to that point.

Utica made it a one-goal game again late in the final period as Andrey Pedan beat Gudlevskis on his short side at 13:52. The Comets, however, were unable to score the equalizer and fell to Syracuse for the fourth time in the first eight contests of the 12-game Galaxy Cup series this season.

The Crunch return to action in an important road contest against the Albany Devils on Wednesday.

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