SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Syracuse Crunch fell to the Utica Comets, 5-4, in overtime this afternoon at the Adirondack Bank Center.
 
Steven Santini led the Crunch with two goals, while Jack Finley contributed a goal and an assist and Conor Sheary notched three helpers. The Crunch earned one point as they move to 23-18-8-4 on the season and 3-4-1-0 in the 14-game season series against the Comets.
 
Crunch goaltender Brandon Halverson turned aside 25-of-30 shots, while Isaac Poulter put a stop to 19-of-23 for the Comets. Syracuse converted on 2-of-5 power play opportunities, while Utica was 2-for-4. 
 
After a scoreless opening frame, the Crunch were on the board first 2:56 into the second period. Jack Finley dished the puck to Steven Santini in the slot where he fired a snap shot passed Poulter. The score was knotted 1:28 later as a Crunch pass bounced off Santini and into Syracuse's net. Utica took a 2-1 lead at the 5:47 mark of the frame as Shane Bowers found Nolan Foote who potted it from in the slot. The Comets then notched their third consecutive goal to make the score 3-1 while on a 5-on-3 man-advantage. Adam Beckman found the back of the net with a wrister from the right circle. With 3:40 remaining in the frame, Jack Finley netted a power play goal from in front of the net to bring the score within one. 
 
Santini tied the game in the third period for the second day in a row as he potted his second goal of the night at the 7:42 mark. He sent a shot in from the left boards and over the left shoulder of Poulter. The Crunch took a 4-3 lead less than a minute later while on the man-advantage. Conor Sheary fed the puck across the ice to Max Crozier who fired a one-timer in from the bottom of the left circle. Utica rallied and tied the game with 38 seconds remaining in regulation to force overtime. Brian Halonen swiped a rebound in from the slot while on the power play. 
 
Beckman scored the game-winner for the Comets in the overtime frame.
 
The Crunch will have a rematch with the Comets in Utica on Friday. 
 
Single game tickets and ticket packages for the 2024-25 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: Steven Santini has a career-high six goals this season…Steven Santini and Jack Finley both have goals in back-to-back games…Conor Sheary notched three assists in a game for the first time this season.