SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Syracuse Crunch topped the Utica Comets, 3-2, tonight at NBT Bank Arena. 
 
Tristan Allard scored his first goal of the season, while Elliot Desnoyers and Gabriel Szturc contributed the other two markers. Jansen Harkins recorded a multi-point game with two assists as the Crunch snapped a four-game skid and advance to 6-6-3-0 on the season. They are 1-1-0-0 in the 12-game season series against the Comets.
 
Crunch goaltender Olivier Rodrigue earned the win, turning aside 31-of-33 shots. Comets netminder David Rittich stopped 13-of-16 shots. Syracuse converted on 1-of-3 power play opportunities and went a perfect 3-for-3 on the penalty kill. 

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The Comets struck first just 2:06 into the first period. Gabe Klassen set up Mikael Diotte for a slap shot from the right circle. The Crunch responded to even the score five minutes later. During a battle in front of the net, the puck bounced off the pads of Rittich and out for Allard to poke it in.
 
Syracuse took the lead with a power-play goal in the second period. Desnoyers skated the puck through the neutral zone and down the left wing before sniping a shot from the bottom of the circle at the 17:50 mark.
 
The Crunch added another to build up a two-goal lead 7:38 into the final frame. Shawn Element fired off a couple attempts during another battle in front of the crease before Szturc finally sent the puck home. The Comets stole one back with 8:36 remaining in the period. Ben Steeves found Riley Tufte for a wrister from the high slot to pull Utica back within one, but the Crunch stifled the late comeback effort to take the win.
 
The Crunch return home on Wednesday to host the Rochester Americans. 
 
Single game tickets and ticket packages for the 2026-27 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: Tristan Allard scored his first goal of the season tonight…Jansen Harkins recorded his first multi-point game of the season tonight.