7 p.m. at Times Union Center, Albany, N.Y.

Syracuse won six of eight games against Albany last season, including a 6-0 drubbin February 13 at Times Union Center, the most lopsided win of the Crunch's 2012-13 regular season. Since the Devils moved from Lowell to Albany, they've lost to the Crunch 11 times in 13 games at the Times Union Center, including the last nine in a row. But the Devils, who finished 12th in the Eastern Conference last year, are 5-2-0-1 to start this season, two points better than Syracuse (4-2-1-0). 

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Last time out
Syracuse scored five times in the second period-once on the power play, once shorthanded and three times at even strength-to defeat the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, 5-0, Saturday at the War Memorial. In his first appearance in the AHL, rookie Kristers Gudlevskis stopped all 22 shots he faced to earn the shutout victory.

J.P. Cote notched the eventual game-winner in the first minute of the second. With an assist later on Cedric Paquette's shorthanded goal in the final seconds of the period, Cote was one of three multi-point performers.

Luke Witkowski had two assists, the first two of his career, and Nikita Kucherov added two helpers to bring his team-leading point total to 11 (6g, 5a). Vlad Namestnikov and Matt Taormina each potted goals to extend their scoring streaks to six games each. Evan Rankin added his second goal of the season on a breakaway.

Scouting the Devils
The Devils had their seven-game point streak snapped Saturday, losing to the Portland Pirates at home, 5-2. Albany never led in the game, as Portland potted the last three unanswered, including two empty netters. Reid Boucher and Scott Timmins had the Devils' goals while Scott Wedgewood stopped 20 of 23 Portland shots.

Scott Timmins and Joe Whitney are tied for the Albany scoring lead with 10 points (5g, 5a) each.  Timmis is on an eight-game point streak to start the season, tied for the second longest mark in club history.

Both Albany goaltenders, Keith Kinkaid and Scott Wedgewood, have a 1.97 goals-against average. Wedgewood is 3-1-0 while Kinkaid is 2-1-1.

The Devils have the 15th ranked power play in the AHL (17.1%).  The power play had scored in five straight games before Saturday. On the penalty kill Albany is ranked 17th (83.3%).  They have allowed a power play goal five straight and six of eight games this season.

Head-to-head
Among returning Crunch players, Brett Connolly led Syracuse vs. Albany in 2012-13 with 10 points (4g, 6a) in the eight meetings.

The Crunch defeated the Devils 3-1 the last time the two teams played on March 23, 2013 at the War Memorial Jon Cooper's last game coaching the Crunch before his promotion to Tampa Bay.  Current players Vlad Namestnikov and J.T. Brown scored in addition to Dan Sexton.  Riku Helenius made 27 saves on 28 shots in the win. 

Special teams
The Crunch power play continued its hot start to the season in Week 4, with one goal in each game. They were 1-for-6 at Utica and 1-for-5 versus Bridgeport. The Crunch now have power-play goals in six straight games, the longest streak for the Crunch since becoming the Tampa Bay Lightning's affiliate last year.

On the season, the Crunch are 10-for-39 (25.6%) on the man advantage, including 8-for-24 (33.3%) at home. The overall percentage is the AHL's sixth best and the home mark ranks second. Only two teams have more than the Crunch's 10 power-play goals. Of the 10, Nikita Kucherov has scored four power-play goals, tied for the most in the league. His seven power-play points are also tied for first.

The Crunch also scored their third shorthanded goal of the season in Saturday's win. Cedric Paquette scored his second shorthanded goal. No player has more than that and he leads rookies in that category. Only Binghamton has more shorthanded markers (4) than the Crunch's three.

The Crunch penalty kill turned in a 7-for-7 effort against Bridgeport, the most kills in a game this year (previous high was six) and the first time in seven games it didn't allow a power-play goal.

Dominating Second Periods
With its five-goal outburst Saturday vs. Bridgeport, the Crunch continued its dominance of the second period. The five-goal frame was the most scored in a single period by the Crunch since Feb. 13 of last season, when the Crunch scored five goals in the second period in a 6-0 win the Devils in Albany.

So far through seven games, the Crunch have outscored opponents 15-5 in the middle period. The Crunch have scored more second period goals than any other team in the AHL.

That success is mirrored in the shots on goal. The Crunch have outshot opponents 107-55 in the second period. That differential (+52) is higher than any other team in any period so far this season.
On the other hand, the Crunch have been outscored in both the first and third periods, being outscored 3-2 in the first and 10-6 in the third.