Game 16: Syracuse Crunch (8-4-3-0) at Hartford Wolf Pack (8-5-2-0)
7 p.m., XL Center, Hartford, Conn.
 
Syracuse looks to continue its season-best, seven-game point streak Wednesday against the Hartford Wolf Pack and extend their win streak to four. Hartford is winless in three and trails the Crunch by one point in the Northeast Division. Former Crunch goalie Cedrick Desjardins will oppose Andrei Vasilevskiy who won his last time out Saturday vs. Hershey.
 
Broadcast Coverage
Countdown to Crunch Time at 6:45 p.m. 
Radio: ESPN Radio 1200 AM Syracuse; 1440 AM Oswego | Listen Live | 
Mobile: Free audio on your mobile device with the TuneIn App 
Streaming: Pay-to-watch video on AHL LIve.com and on your mobile device with the AHL Live App
 
Last Time Out 
Syracuse erased an early two-goal deficit and defeated Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, 3-2, at Mohegan Sun Arena Saturday. The win extended the Crunch's point streak to seven games, the longest streak since an eight-game run in February of 2013.

After the Penguins opened the scoring with first-period goals from Conor Sheary and Andrew Ebbett,Yanni Gourde cut the lead in half late in the second; Slater Koekkoek and Philip Paradis assisted. Gourde tied the game with a power-play goal early in the third with Nikita Nesterov and Jonathan Marchessault garnering helpers. Mike Angelidis put the Crunch ahead for the first time midway through the third, converting a rebound of a Jake Dotchin point blast. The goal was the second in as many games for the Crunch captain.

Kristers Gudlevskis stopped 27 shots for his sixth win. Marchessault's scoring streak stands at seven games (4g, 4a) and Gourde's at five games (5g, 3a). The teams next face off Jan. 10 at the War Memorial.
  
Scouting the Wolf Pack
The Wolf Pack (8-5-2-2) have lost their last three games (0-2-1-0), but their 18 points are one behind Syracuse and three short of division-leading Bridgeport. The New York Rangers' affiliate is 4-2-2-0 at home. J.T. Miller leads the Wolf Pack in scoring with 13 points (5g, 8a). Mat Bodie has 10 points (1g, 9a), 13th most among AHL defensemen. Mackenzie Skapski has the AHL's 13th-best goals-against average at 2.30 in six games; he's 3-1-1 with one shutout. Desjardins, who did not dress for three games because of an injury, is 4-2-0 in seven appearances.

Hartford has allowed nine more third-period goals than it has scored. Syracuse third periods are the opposite, with 20 for and 10 against, tied for third-best goal differential.

Last meeting
The Crunch earned a point in a 4-3 overtime loss to Hartford Oct. 12, the second game of the regular season. Jonathan Marchessault had two assists in the game, and Slater Koekkoek earned his first professional point, an assist. Cedric Paquette scored twice for the Crunch. Andrei Vasilevskiy made 23 saves in his first AHL start, but lost to former Crunch netminder Cedrick Desjardins who made 29 saves. Oscar Lindberg scored two goals with Mat Bodie and Chris Bourque notching two assists each. 

Special Teams
The Crunch have two power-play goals on their last six chances with 1-for-3 showings Friday and Saturday. Nikita Nesterov converted during a five-on-three advantage vs. Hershey, and Yanni Gourde potted one of his two goals in Wilkes-Barre with a man up. The goals improve the team's success rate from to 10.3%, up from 8.1% last week, but still ranks 28th in the AHL. Syracuse's penalty kill is 22nd in the league at 81.3% after allowing one goal on five Penguin chances Saturday.