Game 72: Syracuse Crunch (29-30-4-8) vs. Toronto (42-23-2-4)7:00 p.m., War Memorial Arena, Syracuse, N.Y.
The Crunch host Fan Appreciation Night in their second-to-last home game of the season as they take on the Toronto Marlies. It's just the second match against the Marlies; the Crunch won the first, 6-3, Jan. 3 in Toronto.
Toronto clinched the North Division title last weekend and sits third in the Western Conference with 90 points. The Marlies are six points behind Grand Rapids for the second seed in the Western Conference and Toronto has five games remaining to the Griffins's three.
The Crunch have points in each of their last three games (2-0-0-1), moving to 70 points on the season, 12th in the Eastern Conference. Syracuse also has points in their last six home games (4-0-0-2) since a 6-2 loss to Albany March 22. That matches their longest streak at home of the season; they went 3-0-2-1 in a six-game stretch Feb. 1-March 1.
Countdown to Crunch Time at 6:45 p.m.Radio: ESPN CNY 97.7 FM Syracuse; 100.1 FM Oswego | Listen Live |Mobile: Free audio on your mobile device with the
TuneIn AppStreaming: Pay-to-watch video on
AHL LIve.com and on your mobile device with the
AHL Live App Shooting blanks in the shootoutThe Crunch have come up empty in their last 25 shootout attempts including each attempt in their last four shootout games (0-for-22). Syracuse is 3-8 in games decided in the shootout, including eight straight losses since Nov. 6, giving the Crunch the worst win percentage (27.3%) in the Eastern Conference. Only the Western Conference's Texas Stars (25.0%) and Oklahoma City Barons (18.2%) are below the Crunch in shootout win percentage.
With
Cedric Paquette recalled to Tampa Bay,
Tanner Richard is the lone player who has scored a game-winning shootout goal for the Crunch.
Jonathan Marchessault had one with Springfield, but he hasn't scored in three tries with the Crunch. After last night's game the Crunch dropped to 11-for-62 (17.7%) and 30th in the AHL on shootout attempts. During the Crunch's 0-for-25 span the goaltenders have stopped 15-of-21 opponent chances.
Last time outThe Crunch have points in their last three games following a 3-2 shootout loss to the Penguins Friday. In the tenth and final matchup of the season series, both Syracuse and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton converted twice on the power play.
In the first period, Vlad Namestnikov and
Jon DiSalvatore tallied goals with the man advantage. Namestnikov's 19th goal of the season provided
Brett Connolly with his team-leading 32nd assist, while DiSalvatore's score increased
Jonathan Marchessault's assist total to 32 as well. Chuck Kobasew notched both Penguins goals before Anton Zlobin and Spencer Machacek netted the only goals in the skills competition.
Cedrick Desjardins, in his first start since March 22, denied 29 of 31 W-B/Scranton shots. Meanwhile the Crunch beat Tomas Vokoun, who's playing on a conditioning assignment, twice on 25 shots, but were 0-for-4 in the shootout.
Stellar debuts Goaltender
Kristers Gudlevskis and forward
Cedric Paquette became the 14th and 15th players to appear in a game for both Syracuse and Tampa Bay this season when they suited up for the Lightning in a 3-2 victory Friday. The game marked the NHL debuts for both rookies.
Gudlevskis recorded 36 saves on 38 shots en route to his first career NHL victory. The Latvian netminder also became the first goalie to ever play in the ECHL, AHL, NHL, and Olympics in the same season.
Paquette, who hadn't missed a game and ranked fourth on the Crunch with 44 points (20g, 44a), picked up his first career NHL point with an assist on Eric Brewer's goal in the second period. Paquette won the faceoff back to Brewer whose shot beat Curtis McElhinney. The Gaspe, Quebec native recorded 12:46 of ice time and won 64% of faceoffs, winning a game-high nine draws in 14 attempts.
Scouting the Marlies
Netminder Drew MacIntyre has seen the majority of time in net for the Marlies playing in 46 of Toronto's 71 games, although he's currently on recall with the Maple Leafs. MacIntyre is 27-15-3 with a 2.49 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage. With MacIntyre on recall, rookie Christopher Gibson has rejoined the Marlies. Gibson, who has spent most the season with ECHL-Orlando, played Friday in Toronto's loss to Rochester and has a 5-4-0 record with a 2.14 goals-against average and a .925 save percentage in 10 games with the Marlies. Garret Sparks has appeared in 19 games recording a 2.59 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage.
Spencer Abbott and T.J. Brennan lead the Marlies offense with 69 and 66 points, respectively. Abbott (17g, 52a) ranks third in the AHL in scoring. Brennan (22g, 44a) leads all defenseman in points and goals and is the AHL leader with 250 shots. He also leads the AHL in power-play points (42) and power-play assists (30).
Game 32: Crunch offense enjoys biggest explosion of the seasonSyracuse scored what was then a season-high six goals Jan. 3, defeating the Marlies in Toronto, 6-3. Nine Crunch players marked the score sheet and six players recorded multiple points. Vlad Namestnikov was the only multi-goal performer, potting his ninth and tenth of the year in his second game back from a 14-game absence.
Toronto built a 2-0 lead before Syracuse scored the next five goals. P.C. Labrie netted his first goal with the Crunch since Feb. 24.
Brett Connolly pushed his point streak to six games with a three-point night (1g, 2a), his first since a hat trick Apr. 13.
Cedric Paquette added a goal and an assist for his sixth multi-point game of the season.
Labrie, Namestnikov, Connolly, Paquette,
Joey Mormina (2a), and
Dana Tyrell (1g,1a) all recorded multi-point nights for the Crunch.
Kristers Gudlevskis made 32 saves picking up his seventh win of the season.
Special Teams
The Marlies failed to convert on six power-play opportunities Friday, snapping a two-game man-advantage goal streak. Toronto has man-up goals in three of its past five games (3-for-19; 15.8%). The Marlies are ninth in the AHL on the man advantage (19.9%).
The Marlies penalty kill has given up power-play goals in five straight games (18-for-26; 69.2%). Toronto has surrendered two power-play goals in three of those five contests, including two markers in the team's loss to Rochester Friday. The recent cold streak has dropped Toronto to 10th on the penalty kill (83.3%).
After going 2-for-2 on the man advantage last night, the Crunch are converting on 37.1% of their man-up chances in the last nine games (13-for-35). Vlad Namestnikov's first-period power-play marker Friday, give him seven power-play goals, one behind team leader
Jonathan Marchessault (8). The Crunch power play is up to 14th in the AHL (17.9%).
The Crunch have surrendered two goals on the penalty kill in each of their past two games. Syracuse has given up power-play goals in five of the last six games (19-for-26). Overall Syracuse ranks 14th on the penalty kill at 82.6%.
