YOUNG GUNS LEAD COMETS TO VICTORY OVER CRUNCH
Jan 16, 2019Utica, N.Y. – Adam Gaudette and Jonathan Dahlen recorded two-point nights and Kole Lind scored his first professional goal as the Comets topped the Syracuse Crunch 5-4 Wednesday night at the Adirondack Bank Center. Tom Pyatt also scored for Utica and Ivan Kulbakov came up with 30 saves in the win.
Pyatt struck 25 seconds into the game, beating Crunch goalie Eddie Pasquale on a one-time feed from Tanner Kero. Reid Boucher also tallied an assist. Dahlen doubled the Comets lead with a power play goal at the 18:41 mark of the first period, going skate-to-stick to bury his 10th of the season. Kero and Boucher had the helpers.
Gaudette extended the lead to 3-0 three minutes into the middle frame, tipping a shot from Carter Bancks. Zack MacEwen also registered an assist. The Crunch got within one with a pair of goals from Alex Barre-Boulet and Gabriel Dumont less than a minute apart. Dahlen restored Utica’s two-goal lead 39 seconds later after Brendan Gaunce sent him in on a partial breakaway. Lind pushed the lead to 5-2 with 4:27 to go in the period, burying the rebound from a Dylan Blujus shot. Gaudette also recorded an assist on the goal.
Dumont pulled Syracuse back within two just one minute into the final period. Alexander Volkov’s power play goal put Syracuse within one with 12:57 to play in regulation. The Comets locked things down defensively in the final 13 minutes, including a huge penalty kill late in the period, to secure the win.
The Comets are back at it Friday night against the Binghamton Devils for the second night of the Save of the Day Foundation Week featuring the iconic black and neon green jerseys. Puck drop at the Adirondack Bank Center is at 7 p.m. Fans are encouraged to use the tickets exchange site, StubHub!. The game can be heard on 94.9 KROCK and viewed on AHL TV.