Crunch Seek 5th Straight Win vs. Comets: AHL Preview
UTICA, NY – The Syracuse Crunch are aiming for a fifth consecutive victory as they conclude their regular season series against the Utica Comets tonight at the Adirondack Bank Center. The game, set for a puck drop at 3:00 PM, marks the final meeting between the two teams in Utica this season.
While Syracuse has generally dominated the head-to-head matchups, winning seven of the first ten games, recent contests at the Adirondack Bank Center have favored the Comets, who have secured the last three victories on their home ice. The Crunch, still, enter the game riding a wave of success, having won 11 of their last 12 games, and currently boast a four-game winning streak.
The Crunch’s most recent triumph came Friday night in Syracuse, a 3-2 overtime win against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Rookie forward Lucas Mercuri secured the victory with his first career overtime goal, assisted by Jakob Pelletier.
The game saw a strong start from the Crunch, with Tristan Allard opening the scoring at 5:05 of the first period, followed by a goal from Brendan Furry at 7:46, assisted by Pelletier. The Penguins mounted a comeback, tying the game with goals in the second and final minutes of regulation before Mercuri’s decisive overtime winner.
Friday’s game was notable for being just the seventh overtime contest for the Crunch this season, the fewest in the AHL. Syracuse now holds a 3-4 record in overtime games, with both of their overtime goals coming from rookies: Lucas Mercuri and Dominic James.
Mercuri’s recent performance has been a bright spot for the Crunch. The Montreal native, who turned 24 yesterday, has four goals in his last six games and leads all Crunch rookies in scoring with 21 points (12 goals, 9 assists). His plus-17 rating is also among the best for AHL rookies, ranking sixth overall.
The Utica Comets, meanwhile, have been steadily climbing the North Division standings, posting a 7-3-0-1 record since mid-February. They had a four-game winning streak snapped last night in a 7-3 loss to Belleville and are completing a three-in-three weekend. Forward Brian Halonen currently leads the Comets in scoring with 17 goals and is tied for the team lead in points with 28. He’s currently on a three-game point streak and has accumulated six points (5 goals, 1 assist) in seven games against the Crunch this season. Xavier Parent is also a key offensive threat for Utica, with 28 points (16 goals, 12 assists) and a recent streak of scoring in five consecutive games, totaling seven goals over that span.
Goaltending for the Comets has been a mixed bag against Syracuse this season. Nico Daws (11-14-7, 3.02 GAA, .885 save percentage) is 1-6-0-0 in seven starts against the Crunch. He was pulled early in the second period of last night’s game against Belleville after allowing five goals on ten shots. Rookie goaltender Jakub Málek (9-11-2, 2.71 GAA, .892 save percentage) entered in relief, stopping 10 of 12 shots faced.
Brendan Furry continues to be a consistent offensive contributor for the Crunch, having scored in three of the last four games. The Toledo, Ohio native has established a latest career-high with 13 goals and 27 points this season. Signed as a free agent this summer, Furry has amassed 30 career AHL goals over 176 games with the Crunch and the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
Tonight’s game offers the Crunch an opportunity to extend their winning streak and solidify their position in the AHL standings. For the Comets, it’s a chance to rebound from a tough loss and continue their push towards a playoff berth. Fans can follow the action via streaming on AHLTV on FloHockey and www.syracusecrunch.com/watch, as well as on ESPN Radio Syracuse and www.espncny.com, with the Countdown to Crunch Time beginning at 2:45 p.m.