SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Syracuse Crunch blew past the Utica Comets, 6-1, tonight at the Upstate Medical University Arena.
Ten different Crunch players recorded a point with Lucas Edmonds leading the effort with two goals and one assist. Felix Robert also recorded a three-point night (1g, 2a), while Trevor Carrick (1g, 1a) and Sean Day (2a) rounded out the multi-point efforts. The win advances Syracuse to 31-24-5-3 on the season and 7-3-1-0 in the 14-game season series against Utica.
Crunch goaltender Hugo Alnefelt posted the win stopping 31-of-32 shots. Isaac Poulter turned aside 21-of-26 in net for the Comets before being relieved by Mike Robinson in the second period. Robinson went on to stop 11-of-12.
Syracuse converted on 2-of-4 power play opportunities, while Utica was 1-for-2.
The Crunch scored three unanswered goals in the first period to build up a lead. The scoring started at the 10:15 when the puck kicked out during a battle in front of the net and Edmonds was able to lift a shot over the netminder. At 15:57, Robert grabbed the puck along the end boards, weaved through Comet’s defenders and lifted a backhander into the net. Syracuse then added a power-play tally with 1:23 remaining in the opening frame. Gage Goncalves threw a cross-slot feed for Alex Barre-Boulet to one-time a shot from the right circle.
The Comets stole one back with a power-play goal of their own early in the middle frame. Joe Gambardella sent a feed from beyond the goal line for Reilly Walsh to score from the right faceoff dot. Syracuse responded with a shorthanded goal at 11:49. Daniel Walcott carried the puck down the right side before feeding Cole Koepke at the last minute. Just over a minute later, Carrick added to the lead with a long shot from the blue line.
The scoring onslaught continued in the third period when Edmonds potted his second of the game at the 7:09 mark with a close-range wrister as he followed behind the play. Syracuse did not let up and took the 6-1 victory.
The Crunch are back in action on Friday when they host the Belleville Senators.
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