Syracuse Crunch 5/26/2013 10:40:00 PM

Crunch Even the Conference Finals series with 3-2 Win Over Penguins

3-2 Win

Syracuse, NY – The Syracuse Crunch evened their Eastern Conference Final series 1-1 with a 3-2 win over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins tonight at the War Memorial Arena.

After almost 19 minutes of scoreless play, the Crunch broke through with a power-play goal to take their first lead of the Eastern Conference Final. Penguins goaltender Brad Thiessen made the initial save on a shot by Brett Connolly, but Dan Sexton grabbed the rebound to put Syracuse up 1-0. Mark Barberio also assisted on the goal.

Matt Taormina doubled the Crunch's lead 7:07 into the second period. Mike Angelidis carried the puck along the right boards and passed to Matt Taormina in front of the net. His shot ricocheted off Thiessen and rolled across the goal line. Andrej Sustr picked up an assist on the goal as well.

The Penguins answered back scoring on their second shot of the game at the 8:13 mark of the second period. Joey Mormina scored four seconds into a Palat hooking penalty to cut the Crunch lead in half, with a slapshot over Crunch goalie Cedrick Desjardins' shoulder. Brian Dumoulin and Chad Kolarik assisted on the power-play goal.

The Crunch regained their two-goal advantage with a short-handed goal at the 11:40 mark of the second frame. After a pass from Radko Gudas, Dmitry Korobov rifled a shot from the left point for his first goal of the 2013 Calder Cup Playoffs. Ondrej Palat picked up his team leading 15^th point of the playoffs with an assist on the goal.

With just under six minutes to go in the third period, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton picked up a four-on-four goal to bring the game to 3-2. Riley Holzapfel scored after a scramble in front of the net. Alex Grant was credited with the only assist.

Cedrick Desjardins finished the night with 16 saves on 18 shots and Thiessen made 34 saves on 37 Crunch shots. The Crunch and Penguins will next meet Wednesday night in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final.

Crunchables…With the goal by Dmitry Korobov, the Crunch now have 12 players with a goal during the 2013 Calder Cup Playoffs…Korobov's short-handed goal gives the Crunch 5 for the playoffs, more than any other team…The Crunch held the Penguins to just one shot on goal during the first period which is a season low…The Penguins' 18 shots ties a season low for them this season…

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