Game 18: Syracuse Crunch (8-6-2-1) at Bridgeport Sound Tigers (14-6-1-0)5 p.m., Webster Bank Arena, Bridgeport, Conn.
The Crunch and Sound Tigers clash for the first of two meetings this season today in Bridgeport. The Sound Tigers hold the Atlantic Division's second spot—fourth in the Eastern Conference—at 14-6-1-0, a .690 points percentage. The Crunch remain fourth in the North Division and seventh in the conference (.559) after Friday's 3-1 loss to Toronto.The Sound Tigers hosted the Hartford Wolf Pack Saturday and snapped a two-game skid with a 5-2 win. Joe Whitney recorded a hat trick.
Broadcast Coverage | Countdown to Crunch Time at 4:45 p.m.Radio: ESPN | 97.7FM & 1200AM Syracuse | 100.1FM & 1440AM Oswego |Â
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AHL Live AppSocial: @SyracuseCrunch for in-game updates and @Dan_DUva for insights from the broadcast booth. | #BelieveInBlueTambellini returnsCrunch forward Jeff Tambellini has played 113 of his 193 career AHL games with the Sound Tigers, totaling 138 points (71g, 67a). He made his Bridgeport debut during the 2006 Calder Cup Playoffs after a midseason trade between the Los Angeles Kings and New York Islanders. He played the next four seasons with the Islanders organization, including a 76-point season in 2007-08 appearing in 57 games for Bridgeport, plus four points in 31 games with the Islanders.
Tambellini, 31, has faced Bridgeport once before: Nov. 4, 2005, the seventh game of his professional career while playing for Manchester. He had a goal and two assists in a 7-5 Monarchs win.Tambellini and Joey Mormina, also playing his seventh pro game, assisted on an empty net goal in the third.Last time outThe Toronto Marlies built a 3-0 lead and outshot the Crunch 20-8 through two periods and held on for a 3-1 victory Friday at the War Memorial. Ryan Massa earned a win in his AHL debut with 16 saves, while
Kristers Gudlevskis suffered his third loss (4-3-0) in a 27-save effort.
Tye McGinn scored Syracuse's goal in the third, a power-play score assisted by
Anthony DeAngelo. Two of McGinn's three goals are man-up markers, while DeAngelo has seven power-play assists. The rookie defenseman leads the Crunch in power-play points and overall scoring (3g, 9a). Sam Carrick was the game's first star, scoring the eventual game-winner and fighting
Mike Angelidis, the Crunch captain's second fight of the year.
Scouting the Sound TigersFormer Devils forward Joe Whitney leads the Sound Tigers with 23 points (8g, 15a) while former Sharks winger Bracken Kearns has the most goals (10g, 11a). They rank second and fourth in AHL scoring, respectively.Former Marlies netminder Chris Gibson (8-3-1, 2.14) has appeared in 15 of Bridgeport's 20 games, and has taken six of the last eight decisions (4-1-1) with two shutout wins. He made 24 saves Saturday in Bridgeport's 5-2 win over Hartford. Rookie Stephon Williams (6-2-0, 2.48) has won three straight (four goals against) including a shutout. He won two starts vs. Syracuse last April.
