SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Brandon Halverson and the Syracuse Crunch blanked the Utica Comets, 3-0, tonight at the Upstate Medical University Arena.
 
Halverson stopped all 19 shots he faced to earn his second straight shutout at home. The Crunch now advance to 4-1-0-0 on the season.
 
Comets goaltender Jakub Malek turned aside 31 of the 33 shots that the Crunch peppered on net. Syracuse converted on 1-of-3 power play opportunities and did not allow a Utica man-advantage.
 
After a scoreless first period, the Crunch broke the stalemate four minutes into the middle frame. Malek made the save on Dylan Duke's right circle shot, but Lucas Mercuri crashed the net as the netminder gave up a rebound and poked the puck across the goal line.
 
Syracuse doubled their lead with a power-play goal at the 5:50 mark of the third period. Conor Geekie skated in fired a wrister from the top of the right circle. Jakob Pelletier was down low and tipped the shot into the back of the net. Boris Katchouk rounded out the scoring when he hit the empty net late in the game to secure a Crunch win.
 
The Crunch are back in action on Wednesday when they travel to face the Toronto Marlies.
 
Single game tickets and ticket packages for the 2025-26 season are on sale now and can be purchased in person at the Crunch office located inside the Upstate Medical University Arena at Onondaga County War Memorial at 800 S. State St. in Syracuse, by calling the office at 315-473-4444 or online through Ticketmaster. For the latest Crunch news, visit www.syracusecrunch.com or follow the club on Facebook (www.facebook.com/syracusecrunch), X (@SyracuseCrunch) and Instagram (@syracusecrunch).
 
Crunchables: Dylan Duke recorded his first multi-point game of the season tonight (2a)…Brandon Halverson has not allowed a goal at home this season…Lucas Mercuri recorded his first career game-winning goal.