CRUNCH BEGIN SECOND HALF
 
The Syracuse Crunch return home to face off against the Utica Comets tonight at Upstate Medical University Arena. 
 
It's the eighth game of the season series with the Crunch earning wins in five of the first seven. The Comets blanked the Crunch, 3-0, in their most recent match last Friday in Utica.
 
BROADCAST COVERAGE
 
Streaming: Pay-to-watch video via AHLTV on FloHockey | www.syracusecrunch.com/watch
Television: CNY Central — CW6 beginning at 7 p.m.
Radio: ESPN Radio Syracuse | www.espncny.com beginning at 6:45 p.m.
 
LAST TIME OUT
 
The were held to 20 shots on goal and were shut out for the second time this season on Wednesday night in Rochester at Blue Cross Arena.
 
The 3-0 loss to the Amerks was the Crunch's fourth in the last six games (2-3-1-0) since Jan. 1. It's the second time Syracuse has been shut out in its last three games.
 
The Crunch managed just 11 shots on goal through two periods but trailed by only one goal, which was scored on the power play by Zac Jones seven minutes into the second period. 
 
Rochester added a second Jones goal and an empty-net tally to thwart the Crunch's comeback effort. The Amerks have won the last three meetings against the Crunch.
 
HALFWAY TO THE FINISH LINE
 
The Crunch officially begin the second half of their schedule tonight. The Crunch have accrued 41 points through their first 36 games, which is exactly the same as last season. The Crunch have three more wins this season (19) than at this time last season.
 
Syracuse has the benefit of playing 23 of its final 36 games on home ice. The Crunch are 9-4-0-0 at Upstate Medical University Arena this season.
 
PELLETIER AND GEEKIE GET ALL-STAR NODS
 
Forwards Jakob Pelletier and Conor Geekie will represent the Crunch at the 2026 AHL All-Star Classic presented by BMO on February 10-11 in Rockford, Ill.
 
Pelletier leads Syracuse and is fourth in the league with 37 points this season. The Quebec native's 17 goals lead all Crunch skaters, and his 20 assists are tied with Geekie for second. This will be Pelletier's first AHL All-Star Classic appearance.
 
Geekie is tied for second with Pelletier in assists (20) and third on the Crunch in points (29). The 21-year-old is second among Crunch skaters with 10 power-play assists. This will be Geekie's first AHL All-Star Classic appearance.
 
SCOUTING THE COMETS
 
The Comets are 3-1-0-0 in their last four games including a 3-0 shutout of the Crunch last Friday in Utica. They are 8-5-2-1 since the beginning of December after starting the season with a 2-12-2-1 record. The Comets have 26 points in 31 games and are in last place in the North Division.
 
Second-year defenseman Seamus Casey has five assists in Utica's last five games. He leads the Comets with 16 assists this season and is second in scoring with 17 points (1g, 16a). Casey will represent Utica at the 2026 AHL All-Star Classic for the second consecutive year.
 
Nico Daws has started the majority of games for the Comets this season. He is 6-10-5 with a 2.93 goals-against average and an .884 save percentage in 22 games played. Rookie Jakub Málek posted a 15-save shutout in last Friday's 3-0 blanking of the Crunch.
 
SCORING SLUMP
 
The Crunch have been shut out in two of their last three games, and they have scored at least three goals only three times in the last nine games. 
 
In that span they have gone from averaging 3.56 goals per game to 3.17 goals per game. The Crunch have gone from fourth to 14th in AHL scoring during that time.