SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Syracuse Crunch fell to the Providence Bruins, 3-1, tonight at Amica Mutual Pavilion.
 
The Crunch move to 17-10-1-0 on the season and 0-1-0-0 in the two-game seasons series with the Bruins
 
Crunch goaltender Ryan Fanti turned aside 26-of-28 shots faced. Simon Zajicek put a stop to 23-of-24 in net for the Bruins.
 
The Bruins got out to an early lead just a minute into the game. Georgii Merkulov ripped a shot from the right circle that went off the bar and in. Conor Geekie knotted the score at one with just under five minutes to play in the opening frame. Nick Abruzzese passed the puck from down low for Geekie to wind up and rip in from the right circle. 
 
Merkulov tallied his second goal of the night to give Providence a 2-1 lead halfway through the second period. He deflected a point shot by Billy Sweezey and it bounced into the net. 
 
In the final minute of the third, Merkulov hit the empty net to ice the game. 
 
The Crunch continue their road swing after the holiday break when they take on the Laval Rocket on December 27. 
 
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: Mitchell Chaffee has a four-game points streak (2g, 3a).