The Crunch moves to 13-9-1-0 on the season and 5-1-0-0 in the 12-game season series with the Comets.
Crunch goalkeeper Ryan Fanti stopped 24 of 27 shots on net. Nico Daws earned the win by putting up 22 of 24 for the Comets. Syracuse was held scoreless on both power play opportunities, while Utica converted on 1-on-2 man advantages.
Utica struck in the opening frame in the first fourteen minutes. Dimitri Osipov sent a one-timer from the point that bounced around and went in.
Syracuse tied the score midway through the second period. Conor Geekie sent the puck up from center ice to Jacob Pelletier at the left point. Pelletier then fed it to Nick Abruzzese, who potted it from the slot. Osipov notched his second goal of the night to give the Comets a 2-1 lead at 3:24 of the period. Nathan Légaré passed the puck from the left circle to Osipov in the high slot, where he fired a snap shot. Utica extended the lead, 3-1, with 10 seconds left in the middle frame when Seamus Casey tapped in the puck while on the man advantage.
The Crunch closed their deficit to 3-2 with five minutes to play in the final frame. Jacob Pelletier turned with the puck in the left circle and slid it into the left post, but the comeback attempt ultimately failed.
The Crunch return home Friday when they face the Lehigh Valley Phantoms for the first time this season.
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