UTICA, N.Y. – The Syracuse Crunch edged the Utica Comets, 3-2, tonight at the Adirondack Bank Center to build their second seven-game winning streak of the season.
 
Daniel Walcott opened scoring early in the first period, but the Comets tied it up halfway through the frame. Michael Bournival put Syracuse back on top before Utica knotted the score for the second time in the middle stanza. Carter Verhaeghe scored the game-winner while on the power play in the third period to give the Crunch the win and advance the team to 22-12-1-2 on the season. Syracuse now has a 3-2-0-0 lead in the 12-game season series against Utica.
 
Connor Ingram extended his streak to six consecutive wins with a 37-save performance. Thatcher Demko stopped 30-of-33 shots in net for the Comets. Syracuse struck on 1-of-6 power play opportunities and went a perfect 8-for-8 on the penalty kill.
 
The Crunch jumped out to a 1-0 lead 5:08 into the opening frame. Verhaeghe chipped a puck out of the left corner for Walcott to redirect past Demko from in front of the net.
 
At the 12:47 mark, Utica evened the score. Ashton Sautner faked a shot from the top of the left circle before backhanding a no-look feed for Adam Comrie to one-time from the slot. Dylan Blujus tallied a point on the equalizer.
 
With 1:46 remaining in the first period, Syracuse went back on top. Matthew Peca cleared the puck out from behind the net for Bournival to roof from the goal line with a quick shot. Erik Condra recorded the secondary helper.
 
Three minutes into the middle frame, the Comets tied the game for a second time. After receiving a pass from Zack MacEwen, Patrick Wiercioch ripped a slap shot from the left point that missed the net wide. The puck ricocheted off the end boards where Reid Boucher chipped it in from the right wing while Ingram was out of position.
 
Syracuse scored the eventual game-winner on the power play at the 2:24 mark of the third period. Mat Bodie won a battle in the corner and sent the puck up towards the center point. Verhaeghe picked up the loose puck and fired home a wrister while alone in the slot. Adam Erne earned the secondary assist.
 
The Crunch return home to host the Rochester Americans tomorrow at 7 p.m.
 
Single game tickets and packages are on sale now and can be purchased in person at the Crunch office located inside the War Memorial Arena at 800 S. State St. in Syracuse, by calling the office at 315-473-4444. For the latest Crunch news, visit www.syracusecrunch.com or follow the club on Facebook (www.facebook.com/syracusecrunch), Twitter (@SyracuseCrunch) and Instagram (@syracusecrunch) using #SyrCrunch.
 
Crunchables: Jonne Tammela returned from injury to make his Crunch season debut tonight…Michael Bournival leads the team with 12 goals…Adam Erne has five points (2g, 3a) in his last three games.