When: Tuesday, February 7 at 7:00 p.m.
Where: XL Center
Radio: The Score 1260
Watch: AHL Live
 
Season Series: This is the first of two meetings between the Syracuse Crunch and the Connecticut Whale this season. Last season, Syracuse swept the season series against Connecticut, winning both games. Dan Sexton led the Crunch, recording three points (2g, 1a) against the Whale. Connecticut goalie Chad Johnson failed to record a win against Syracuse, going 0-1-0 with a 5.00 goals-against average and a .853 save percentage.
 
Syracuse is 5-6-3 all-time against Connecticut/Hartford.
 
Crunch At A Glance: Syracuse enters the game 14th in the Eastern Conference, five points behind the Connecticut Whale for eighth in the conference. The Rochester Americans defeated the Crunch, 5-4, in overtime Saturday at the War Memorial Arena. Paul Szczechura led all skaters, recording four points (3g, 1a) in the win. Kyle Palmieri and Patrick Maroon powered the Crunch offense, each recording two points. Marco Cousineau stopped 36 shots in the loss. Syracuse has earned points in three of its last four games.
 
Maroon enters tonight's game leading the Crunch with 48 points (22g, 26a). He's seventh in the league in points. Palmieri leads the team with 25 goals, and is tied with Norfolk's Cory Conacher for first in the league in goals. Rookie Peter Holland has 34 points (16g, 18a) and is eighth among all rookies in points.
 
Crunch Leaders
Goals: Kyle Palmieri - 25
Assists: Patrick Maroon - 26
Points: Patrick Maroon - 48
Plus/Minus: Kyle Palmieri - +15
PIM: Troy Bodie - 81
Wins: Iiro Tarkki - 10
GAA: Iiro Tarkki - 2.85
Save %: Iiro Tarkki - .914
Shutouts: Iiro Tarkki - 2
 
Recent Crunch Transactions
2/06/2012 Devante Smith-Pelly (RW) ADD Conditioning Loan from Anaheim (NHL)
2/05/2012 Iiro Tarkki (G) Syracuse DEL Recalled from loan by Anaheim (NHL)
2/05/2012 Jeff Deslauriers Syracuse ADD Returned on loan from Anaheim (NHL)
2/03/2012 J.F. Jacques (LW) Syracuse ADD Returned on loan from Anaheim (NHL)
2/03/2012 Kyle Palmieri (RW) Syracuse ADD Returned on loan from Anaheim (NHL)
2/03/2012 Mark Bell (C) Syracuse ADD Returned on loan from Anaheim
 
Who's Hot
Luca Caputi - Six points (3g, 3a) in his last six games
Peter Holland - Three goals in his last three games
Patrick Maroon - Three points (2g, 1a) in his last three games
 
Whale At a Glance: The Whale defeated the Hershey Bears, 4-1, Saturday night at the Giant Center. Tied 1-1 after the first period, Connecticut scored three unanswered goals for their second straight win. Tommy Grant led the offense, collecting two goals. Nine different Connecticut players recorded at least one point. Chad Johnson stopped 39 shots for the win.
 
Kris Newbury leads the Whale with 41 points (17g, 24a) in 35 games. He's tied for 11th in the league in points. Newbury also leads the team in goals. Jonathan Audy-Marchessault is tied with Newbury for the team lead in assists, with each player entering tonight's game with 24. Audy-Marchessault is fourth among all rookies with 40 points. Andre Deveaux is tied for fourth in the league with 10 power-play goals.
 
Whale Leaders:
Goals: Kris Newbury - 17
Assists: Kris Newbury and Jonathan Audy-Marchessault - 24
Points: Kris Newbury - 41
Plus/Minus: Carl Hagelin - +12
PIM: Kris Newbury - 91
Wins: Chad Johnson - 12
GAA: Chad Johnson - 2.56
Save %: Chad Johnson - .914
Shutouts: Cameron Talbot - 2
 
Recent Whale Transactions
2/03/2012 Casey Wellman (C) Connecticut ADD Loaned to NY Rangers (NHL)
2/02/2012 Aaron Voros (LW) Connecticut DEL Released from PTO
2/02/2012 Jeff Woywitka (D) Connecticut ADD Conditioning loan from NY Rangers (NHL)
2/02/2012 Randy McNaught (RW) Connecticut DEL Loaned to Greenville (ECHL)
2/02/2012 Wojtek Wolski (LW) Connecticut ADD Conditioning loan from NY Rangers (NHL)
 
Who's Hot
Jonathan Audy-Marchessault - Four points (2g, 2a) in his last four games
Mats Zuccarello - Four points (1g, 3a) in his last three games
Kris Newbury - Two goals in his past two games