Game 50: Syracuse Crunch (29-14-2-4) at Albany Devils (20-18-1-9)
2:00 p.m. at Times Union Center, Albany, N.Y.
Riding a three-game win streak, the Crunch square off with the Albany Devils Presidents' Day afternoon at Times Union Center, their second meeting in four days and the third in ten days. Syracuse has won three of the four matchups this season, including a 6-0 victory in Albany Feb. 13 following a 4-3 loss in Syracuse Feb. 9. The Crunch have won all three games in Albany this season
Coverage
Listen to live play-by-play on The Score 1260 with pregame coverage starting at 1:45 p.m. Pay-to-watch video is available on AHL Live. For in-game updates on Twitter, follow @SyracuseCrunch and broadcaster @Dan_Duva. For post-game recap, visit SyracuseCrunch.com and join the conversation on Facebook.
Where They Stand
The Devils have lost three in a row (0-2-0-1), but are 5-4-0-1 in their last ten games to move to 20-18-1-9. That's good for 50 points, which puts the Devils in third place in the Northeast Division and tenth overall in the Eastern Conference. The Devils are 8-9-0-6 at home, double the number of home shootout as any AHL team. After losing their first eight shootouts, they've won two of their last three (2-9).
Syracuse has outscored opponents 16-1 in its last three games, including shutouts of Albany and Binghamton. Syracuse is one point behind Binghamton and Springfield for the Eastern Conference lead with 64 points at 29-14-2-4. The Crunch have 19 of their 29 wins on the road (19-6-0-2), three more road wins than any other AHL team.
Scouting Report
Albany is led by right wing Matt Anderson (10g-18a-28pts), left wing Joe Whitney (12g-15a-27pts), and center Steve Zalewski (8g-17a-25pts). Goaltender Keith Kinkaid is 16-10-5 with a 2.61 goals against average and a .908 save percentage. He's given up 13 goals in three games against the Crunch.
For Syracuse,
Tyler Johnson's seven points (4g, 3a) lead all Crunch scorers in four games against the Devils. In net,
Riku Helenius has won both of his starts versus Albany, including a shutout Wednesday.
Brett Connolly has an eight-game scoring streak with 10 points in that span (6g, 4a). His 44 points (21g, 23a) are seventh best in the AHL, fourth among active players while
Tyler Johnson's 45 points (23g, 22a) are one short of the active leader, Springfield's Jonathan Audy-Marchessault.
Riku Helenius has started four straight games, winning the last three including two shutouts.
Last Meeting: Feb.13
All six Syracuse goals came on special teams-four on the power play and two shorthanded-while Albany was held scoreless in six man advantages as the Crunch thumped the Devils, 6-0, at Times Union Center in Albany. Syracuse snapped its two game losing streak which was started by the Devils, a come-from-behind effort four days earlier.
Mike Angelidis dropped the gloves with Dan Kelly eight seconds into the game following boarding by Kelly.
Mark Barberio scored his seventh 37 seconds into the ensuing power play (
Tyler Johnson and
Brett Connolly assisting) to set the tone. Syracuse scored a season-best five goals in the second frame:
Dmitry Korobov,
Radko Gudas and J.T. Wyman on the power play with
Dana Tyrell (in his Crunch debut) and
Mike Angelidis adding unassisted shorthanded markers. Gudas had his first Gordie Howe hat trick of the year, as Barberio, Korobov and
Philip-Michael Devos each had two-point performances.
Riku Helenius stopped all 24 Albany shots while starter Keith Kincaid made only 10 saves on 16 shots through 40 minutes before getting relieved by Jeff Frazee for the third.
