Syracuse Crunch 12/7/2013 10:34:00 PM

Crunch defeated by Admirals 2-1

2-1 Loss

Syracuse, NY – The Syracuse Crunch fell to the Norfolk Admirals 2-1 tonight at the War Memorial Arena.

Admirals defenseman Jesse Blacker scored the game-winning goal 8:12 into the third period to drop the Crunch's overall record to 11-8-1-2. The Crunch are now 2-1-0-1 against the Admirals this season.

Crunch netminder Kristers Gudlevskis stopped 22 of 24 while suffering his first AHL loss. Admirals goaltender Igor Bobkov, called up from the Utah Grizzlies earlier today, stopped 21 of the 22 shots he faced. Syracuse was scoreless on four power-play chances while the Admirals converted on one of four man-advantages.

Norfolk forward Rickard Rakell opened the scoring by converting on the power play with 4:46 remaining in the first period.

Rakell was credited with the goal after the puck slipped past Gudlevskis during a scrum in front of the net. Assists went to Jesse Blacker and Kevin Gagne.

Crunch forward Eric Neilson, with his first goal of the season, tied up the game with 15:13 left in the second. Neilson found the rebound of a Max Parent shot on Bobkov's stick-side. The secondary assist went to Dmitry Korobov.

Blacker scored at the 8:12 mark in the final frame to end the game 2-1. Max Friberg fed Blacker at the top of the left circle, Blacker's shot rang off the left post before finding the back of the net. Nolan Yonkman also earned an assist on the play.

The Crunch travel to St. John's for back-to-back games against the IceCaps on Dec. 10 and 11.

Crunchables: Eric Neilson's second period goal was his first at home since joining the Crunch…Neilson's lone goal of the 2012-13 season also came against the Admirals…JP Cote was assessed a match penalty during the first period…Both Brett Connolly and Cedric Paquette had a three-game point streak snapped…

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