Game 41: Syracuse Crunch (17-17-2-4) at Bridgeport Sound Tigers (17-22-1-4)
5 p.m., Webster Bank Arena, Bridgeport, Conn.
The Crunch conclude their first three-in-three weekend of the season Sunday in Brigeport, the team's second and final matchup with the Sound Tigers this season. Syracuse topped the New York Islanders' AHL club, 5-0, Oct. 26 at the War Memorial. Even with four fewer games played, Syracuse has a one-point edge in the standings over Bridgeport, 40 to 39. The Sound Tigers have closed the gap lately, winning their last three as the Crunch have lost three straight.
Broadcast Coverage
Last time out
Cedric Paquette had his seventh multi-point performance (a goal and an assist) and
Tanner Richard potted his first professional goal, but Syracuse fell to Hershey, 3-2, Saturday at Giant Center. The Crunch are 2-2-0-1 vs. Hershey.
Richard Panik, making his season debut with Syracuse, set up Paquette's game-tying goal in the first period 39 seconds after Hershey potted the game's first goal.
In the second, just as a 4-on-4 hockey became a 5-on-4 Syracuse power play, Paquette found Richard coming out of the penalty box and Richard scored the first power-play goal for either team in the season series. However, Richard's first goal came on one of only 19 Syracuse shots in the game, their lowest total since 15 at St. John's in mid December.
Cedrick Desjardins, despite stellar glove saves, suffered the loss (5-10-2) with 23 saves in his first full game since New Year's Eve. Desjardins's most spectacular glove stop robbed Michael Latta at close range, but later, a blue-line snap shot from Latta tipped off the Crunch goalie's glove to tie the game, 2-2. Latta scortched the game winner unassisted after instercepting a Crunch break-out pass at the blue line.
The teams combined for 128 penalty minutes, including five fights and the first two for P.C. Labrie of the season.Â
When they last met
Game 7: Gudlevskis shines in shutout of Sound Tigers
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, Oct. 26 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 Sound Tigers
The Sound Tigers also conclude a three-in-three Sunday, having defeated Portland and Springfield on the road to make a three-game win streak.Â
Despite missing 16 games between Dec. 10-Jan. 12 while on recall with the New York Islanders, rookie Ryan Strome leads Bridgeport with 38 points (10g, 28a) in 28 games, including a goal and four assists in his five games back in the AHL. He is three points behind Texas's Curtis McKenzie for the AHL rookie scoring lead, despite playing in 15 fewer games. He leads all rookies with 28 assists. Rookie Andres Lee is second on the team in scoring with 33 points (16g, 17a) and he leads Eastern Conference rookies in goal scoring. Mike Halmo is third with 30 points (15g, 15a) and penalty minutes at 97.
With goaltender Andres Nilsson on recall with the Islanders, Bridgeport has seen two goalies split time in net. Kenny Reiter has played in 20 games and has a 8-9-2 record after a win Saturday to snap a four-game personal skid.
