Game 30: Syracuse Crunch (19-7-3-0) vs. Albany Devils (13-10-1-4)
7 p.m., War Memorial Arena, Syracuse, N.Y.

Syracuse tries to extend its win-streak to 10 games tonight when the team hosts Albany for the second time in seven days. It's the second-straight meeting between the teams after the Crunch beat the Devils, 3-2, Saturday in Syracuse. The Crunch have taken the first two of eight meetings of the season, each with a 3-2 final, with the first game decided in a shootout. The Crunch are ten points ahead of the fourth-place Devils (31pts) in the Northeast Division. Syracuse ranks second in the Eastern Conference.

Broadcast Coverage | Countdown to Crunch Time at 6:45 p.m.
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Going streaking!
The Crunch haven't lost in December, winning nine straight since Nov. 29, the team's longest win streak since Tampa Bay affiliated with Syracuse for the 2012-13 season. The Crunch last won nine in a row in the midst of a franchise-record 15-game win streak to end the 2007-08 season.

Catapulted to first place in the Northeast Division by the current streak, Syracuse trails conference-leading Manchester by one point and owns the AHL's third-best points percentage, .707, the Crunch's highest of the year. Syracuse has allowed more than two goals in a game once during the streak, while featuring a different game-winning goal scorer in each victory and outscoring opponents 28-12.

Vasilevskiy back between the pipes
Following a brief NHL stint with Tampa Bay, Crunch goaltender Andre Vasilevskiy was reassigned to Syracuse on Wednesday. The 20-year-old netminder's first taste of the NHL included two wins in three games, a 2.01 goals-against average and a .940 save percentage.

In his Lightning debut Dec. 16, Vasilevskiy made 23 saves in a 3-1 victory at Philadelphia. He became the third goalie in Lightning history to post a victory in his NHL debut. He set a new Lightning rookie record by making 45 saves Dec. 20 against the New York Islanders.

Vasilevskiy has wins in his last four Crunch games, allowing only two goals in that span. He's 8-3-3 with a 2.34 goals-against average, 16th in the AHL and sixth among rookie goalies. The Tymen, Russia native was recognized as the CCM/AHL Player of the Week for Dec. 8-15, having allowed one goal on 56 shots in two week 10 games, both wins, for 0.50 goals-against average and .982 save percentage.

Last time out
Syracuse defeated Albany, 3-2, Saturday at the War Memorial Arena and extended their win streak to nine. Kristers Gudlevskis won his fifth consecutive start making 26 saves. 

Mike Angelidis and Mike Blunden provided the first two Syracuse goals, but it was Vladislav Namestnikov's power-play goal in the second that proved to be the difference. Namestnikov became the ninth different player to score a game-winning goal during the team's nine game win streak. The Angelidis marker, assisted by Namestnikov and Jonathan Marchessault, was also a power-play score. Syracuse's 2-for-7 power-play effort marked the second time this season the Crunch recorded multiple power-play goals in the same game. Angelidis also assisted on Blunden's goal, while Namestnikov's tally was set up Jerome Samson and Nikita Nesterov.

Marchessault moves into a tie with Yanni Gourde for the Crunch scoring lead at 24 points. Angelidis has eight points (5g, 3a) in the last eight games and is one goal shy of his total from all of last season. Blunden has five points (3g, 2a) in six games since returning from injury. Namestnikov has 10 points (4g, 6a) in eight games since being assigned to the Crunch, including three multi-point games; three of his four goals have been power-play strikes.

Scouting the Devils
The Devils 3-2 loss at the War Memorial Saturday snapped a two-game win streak. Albany's 31 points rank fourth in the Northeast Division and eighth in the Eastern Conference.

The Devils' leading goal scorer Paul Thompson tallied his 13th Saturday against the Crunch. Thompson scored six goals in the first three games of the season, including four on opening night, but has only seven in his last 25 games. Goals last Friday and Saturday mark first time he has tallies in back-to-back games this year. His 22 points are second on the squad only to Joe Whitney's 23 points.

Albany's top goalie, Keith Kinkaid (7-2-3), was recalled to New Jersey Dec. 9, leaving Albany with Scott Clemmensen (2-3-1), Maxime Clermont (0-0-0) and Scott Wedgewood (4-5-1). Wedgewood, who has a 3.31 goals-against average, started both games against Syracuse. Clermont was promoted from ECHL-Orlando Wednesday and is 5-3 with the Solar Bears in nine games.

Rome, New York native Tim Sestito was assigned to Albany Tuesday after four games with New Jersey. The former Syracuse Jr. Crunch standout (2000-01) has played 90 NHL games but has yet to score a goal (6a). He has 13 points (6g, 7a) with Albany this year, his 10th year pro and sixth with the Devils.

Special Teams
Mike Angelidis and Vladislav Namestnikov scored on the man advantage in Saturday's 3-2 win against Albany, improving the Crunch to 26th in the AHL (13.2%). Three of Namestnikov's four goals this year have come on the power play, while Angelidis has two power-play goals this season, both in December. Syracuse's penalty kill stopped three of four Albany power plays and ranks 24th at 80.3%. 

The Devils power play inched up to 10th in the AHL (18.3%) after Reid Boucher's man-up goal against the Crunch Saturday. At 24-for-131, Albany's man advantage is led by Joe Whitney and Mike Sislo who each have four power-play goals. Albany allowed two Crunch power-play goals Saturday and ranks 23rd on the penalty kill at 80.8%.