SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Syracuse Crunch fell to the Utica Comets, 5-2, tonight at the Upstate Medical University Arena.
The loss moves the Crunch to 22-21-6-1 on the season and 2-7-1-0 in the 14-game season series against the Comets.
Goaltender Hugo Alnefelt stopped 19-of-23 shots in net for the Crunch. Akira Schmid earned the win turning aside 31-of-33 shots between the pipes for the Comets. Syracuse was unable to convert on their one power play opportunity while Utica went 2-for-4.
The Comets were first on the board with a power-play goal 12:34 into the game. Alnefelt made the save on Brian Flynn’s shot but Graeme Clarke followed behind the play to poke in the loose puck from the slot.
Utica added three more in the second period to continue building a lead. Just 1:36 into the frame, Chase De Leo cut towards the net and backhanded the puck over Alnefelt. Three minutes later, De Leo scored again when Alexander Holtz sent him a pass across the slot as they came in on an odd-man rush. At the 13:22 mark, Holtz potted one of his own on the man-advantage with a wrister from the left circle.
The Crunch finally responded at 14:12 of the middle frame when Alex Green solved Schmid with a long right-point shot.
Cole Koepke pulled Syracuse back within two at the 15:10 mark of the third period when he scored with a wrister from the slot, but 14 seconds later, Fabian Zetterlund hit the empty net to secure a Utica win.
The Crunch and Comets will face off for their third consecutive game this time in Utica on Wednesday.
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