Allentown, Penn. – The Syracuse Crunch topped the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, 4-3, in the 2015-16 season opener tonight at the PPL Center.
 
Jonathan Marchessault led the Crunch with a two-goal performance, while Dylan Blujus registered two assists and Anthony DeAngelo earned his first professional point.
 
Syracuse goaltender Kristers Gudlevskis picked up his first win of the season turning aside 26 of 29 shots. Lehigh Valley netminder Jason LaBarbera allowed four goals on 26 shots. The Crunch were unable to convert on one power-play opportunity, while the penalty kill unit went one-for-four.
 
The Crunch came out strong, tallying three goals in the first period. After a battle in front of the net, Mike Blunden shoveled in the team's first goal of the season nine minutes into the opening frame. Captain Mike Angelidis and Henri Ikonen both earned a point for the assists.
 
At the 11:39 mark, the Phantoms evened the score while on the power play. Gudlevskis turned aside Taylor Leier's shot, but left the rebound out for Aaron Palushaj to chip in from the circle. Shayne Gostisbehere picked up the secondary assist.
 
Syracuse lit the lamp two more times before the first period came to an end. With 5:29 remaining, Joel Vermin dropped a pass to Marchessault, who beat LaBarbera from the slot. The secondary helper went to Blujus.
 
Philippe Paradis built up a three-goal lead for the Crunch with 1:22 left on the clock. DeAngelo recorded his first professional point when he started the play at the blue line. He passed to Tanner Richard, who sauced a cross-crease feed for Paradis to rip one top shelf.
 
Marchessault kicked-off the middle frame with his second goal of the game at the 6:07 mark. Jeff Tambellini pushed the puck to Blujus, who fed Marchessault at the point. His shot on LaBarbera was stopped, but he found his own rebound in the circle and beat the goaltender five-hole.
 
Three minutes later, the Phantoms cut the Crunch's lead to two when Chris Conner found the back of the net off assists from Pavel Padakin and Michael Parks.
 
Lehigh Valley struck again with 3:29 remaining in the contest. After a battle in front of the net, Danick Martel got the puck past Gudlevskis with the help of Conner and Nick Cousins.
 
The Crunch were able to hold off the late period push and downed the Phantoms, 4-3.
 
Syracuse returns to the War Memorial Arena on Saturday, Oct. 17 when they host the Binghamton Senators for their Home Opener presented by Upstate University Hospital at 7 p.m.
 
The Syracuse Crunch 2015-16 home opener is Saturday, Oct. 17 at 7 p.m. Single game and season tickets are on sale now and can be purchased either in person at the Crunch Box Office located in the War Memorial on 800 South State Street in Syracuse or by calling the office at 315-473-4444. For the latest Crunch news, visit www.syracusecrunch.com or follow the club on Facebook (www.facebook.com/syracusecrunch), Twitter (@SyracuseCrunch) and Instagram (@officialsyracusecrunch) using SyrCrunch and BelieveInBlue.
 
Crunchables: In addition to his professional debut, Anthony DeAngelo tallied his first professional point (1a)…Jeff Tambellini and Tye McGinn made their Crunch debut tonight…Dylan Blujus earned his first multi-point game of the season with two assists…Jonathan Marchessault recorded his first multi-goal game of the season.