ALBANY, N.Y. – Jeff Tambellini notched his second power-play goal in back-to-back games as the Syracuse Crunch dropped a 3-1 decision to the Albany Devils tonight at the Times Union Center.
 
The loss extends the Crunch's skid to four and puts the team at 10-10-2-1 on the season. The Devils continue a seven-game winning streak as they move to 16-4-3-0 and take a 3-0 lead in the six-game season series.
 
Crunch goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy turned aside 24 of 27 shots and was handed his first AHL loss this season. Devils netminder Scott Wedgewood picked up the win, making 17 saves. Syracuse tallied one power-play goal, going 1-for-3, and shut down all three Albany man-advantages.
 
After a scoreless first period, the Devils struck twice in quick succession late in the second stanza. With 5:24 remaining in the frame, Corey Tropp deked around a Crunch defender and threw it across the slot for Jim O'Brien to one-time over Vasilevskiy's glove. Just 28 seconds later, O'Brien lit the lamp again with the same line.
 
Before the period came to a close, Tambellini hit double digits on the season and took one back for the Crunch while on the man-advantage. He fired a blast from the left point off assists from Matt Taormina and Tanner Richard.
 
At the 7:38 mark of the final period, Brandon Burlon put Albany back up by two. Tropp dug the puck out from behind the net for Burlon to chip in from the slot.
 
The Crunch were unable to stage a comeback and fell to the Devils, 3-1.
 
Syracuse returns to the War Memorial Arena on Saturday to host the Toronto Marlies at 7 p.m.
 
Syracuse Crunch 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: Tonight was Andrei Vasilevskiy's third game with the Crunch this season. He was reassigned to the team on Dec. 10…Jeff Tambellini has registered a power-play goal in back-to-back games. He now leads the Crunch in points with 15 (10g, 5a).