Nesterov's return
Nikita Nesterov made his Crunch season debut Friday and scored a goal in his first game with Syracuse since Dec. 28, 2014. Nesterov was assigned to the Crunch earlier in the day.

The defenseman, who has zero points in six Lightning games this year, made his NHL debut with the Bolts in Buffalo last New Year's Eve and went on to record seven points (2g, 5a) in Tampa Bay's regular season (27 games) and six points (1g, 5a) in the Stanley Cup Playoffs (17 games). His first NHL goal came Feb. 26 against Los Angeles Kings netminder Jonathan Quick.

Friday's goal was Nesterov's first with the Crunch since Dec. 10, 2014, and his first Crunch point since Dec. 12, 2014. In his Crunch career, Nesterov has eight goals and 23 assists in 87 games. Seven of eight career AHL goals have come on the power play.

Last time out 
The Crunch lost to the Devils 4-3 Friday at the War Memorial. Syracuse made two separate comebacks in the game, tying the game at two and then again at three. Albany's Ryan Kujawinski scored with 5:22 remaining in the third period to put the game out of reach for good. 

Albany scored the first two goals of the game on shots by Ben Thompson and Joseph Blandisi. Down 2-0, Syracuse stormed back late in the second period. Yanni Gourde scored his second goal of the year on a backhand shot through the five-hole, to bring the Crunch within one. Six minutes later with the Crunch on a five-on-three power play, Nikita Nesterov ripped a one-timer from the point to even the score before the start of the third.

The Devils scored a power-play goal four minutes into the third period to retake the lead, but four minutes later Jonathan Marchessault threw the puck on net from a bad angle and banked it off goalie Yann Danis to tie the game again, this time at 3-3.

After falling behind 4-3, the Crunch couldn't capitalize on additional extra-man chances and the team was 1-for-8 on the power play.  Kristers Gudlevskis suffered his first loss, saving 21 of 25 shots.

Multi-point performers    
With Philippe Paradis scratched Friday, linemates Yanni Gourde and Tanner Richard skated with Jonathan Marchessault and the trio produced two of Syracuse's three goals. Each player had two points in the game, including the first multi-point efforts of the year for Gourde (1g, 1a) and Richard (2a). Jonathan Marchessault (1g, 1a) had a two-goal game Oct. 10 at Lehigh Valley. 

Gourde, who had 15 multi-point games last season, has 26 in his AHL career. Tanner Richard has 13 multi-point efforts in 151 AHL games, all with Syracuse. Marchessault has 21 multi-point games in 97 career games with Syracuse. 

Scouting the Phantoms
Lehigh Valley has played 10 games this season (4-6-0-0) and sits in seventh place in the Atlantic Division. Last week the Phantoms had a home-and-home series with Hershey, winning the first game in a shootout (5-4) and losing the second (4-2). 

Lehigh Valley has not won back-to-back games and when trailing after the second period have not won a game all year (0-6-0-0). They are lead in scoring by Nick Cousins (3g, 6a) and Petr Straka (6g, 2a). In net, Anthony Stolarz and Jason LaBarbera (187 NHL games played) have split 10 games evenly. Stolarz has the better statistics with a 1.82 goals against average and a .920 save percentage. 

After starting the season with ECHL-Toledo, former Syracuse forward Evan Rankin was signed to a tryout contract by the Phantoms Oct. 24. He is plus-1 with zero points in five games. 

Special teams
Syracuse has converted at least one man advantage in each of the last two games. Syracuse went 1-for-8 Friday vs. Albany and 2-for-6 Oct. 30 vs. Hershey. While Syracuse ranks 28th overall (10.9%), they are 16th at home (17.9%). Anthony DeAngelo is Syracuse's leading power-play performer with three power-play assists. The Phantoms scored one of their seven man-up goals against the Crunch Oct. 10,  and rank 13th at 17.5%.

The Crunch penalty kill ranks at 23rd in the league (78.7%) after a 3-for-5 effort Friday. Only Lehigh Valley has allowed more power-play goals on the season (11), and ranks last with a 72.5% efficiency.

Lightning flash 
Tampa Bay, 2-1 so far on a four-game road trip, visits Minnesota tonight for its fifth game in eight days. This is the first of two meetings between the Lightning and the Wild this season. Minnesota's Zach Parise was ruled out of today's game with a right knee injury and is considered day-to-day. Victor Hedman (1g, 10a) leads the team in points, while Steven Stamkos (7g, 3a) leads the team in goals. Former Crunch center, Tyler Johnson is third on the team in points with eight (2g, 6a).

The next time Tampa Bay and Minnesota play will be on Jan. 2 in Florida. Last season the teams split their two meetings, one win apiece.