Game 71: Syracuse Crunch (40-21-9-0) vs. Bridgeport Sound Tigers (27-36-6-1)7 p.m., War Memorial Arena
Following a Sound Tigers win against the Crunch last weekend, Syracuse plays its second-straight game against Bridgeport Friday at the War Memorial. The Crunch are on a four-game winless streak but hold a four-point edge in the Northeast Division and have clinched a berth to the Calder Cup Playoffs. Bridgeport sits last in the Northeast with 61 points. Friday is the 60th anniversary of the Syracuse Nationals' NBA Championship, and the Crunch will hold a special pregame ceremony prior to the game.
Broadcast Coverage |
Countdown to Crunch Time at 6:45 p.m.Radio: ESPN Radio | 97.7 FM, 1200 AM Syracuse | 100.1 FM, 1440 AM Oswego |
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AHL Live App Richard and Ikonen Return
Crunch forwards Tanner Richard and Henri Ikonen return to the lineup Friday after each missed time due to injury. Richard is back after missing the previous five games. He has 12 goals, 37 points, and is tied for a team-best plus-18.
Ikonen, who has been out since Feb. 25, has appeared in 53 games for Syracuse, notching five goals and 11 points.
Quick Contributions
The Crunch have made several new additions throughout the season as the Tampa Bay Lightning made trades and reassignments heading into March. Four new players who have played at least 10 games with Syracuse, have all increased their performance from their former club.
Justin Courtnall was acquired March 9 from Bridgeport for future considerations. In 12 games with the Crunch, he's matched his output of 7 points that took 40 games to reach with the Sound Tigers.
Ryan Martindale was reassigned to Syracuse as Matt Corrente was sent to San Antonio on March 2. With 10 points in 14 games with the Crunch, the 23-year-old forward has improved his points-per-game from .29 to .71 since leaving the Rampage.
Carter Ashton and David Broll were traded from the Maple Leafs to the Lightning on Feb. 6. Ashton has 13 points in 24 games with the Crunch after playing 12 games with Toronto and posting eight points.
David Broll played 21 games without a point with the Marlies before the trade. He's tallied three assists in 17 games with the Crunch.
Scouting the Sound Tigers
With an eight-game season series not starting until Jan. 17, the Crunch have quickly become familiar with division foe Bridgeport. The clubs play six times in the season's final 30 days. The Sound Tigers notched their third win in six games versus Syracuse Saturday at Webster Bank Arena. They won again Monday, 4-1, in a makeup game against Worcester.
Kael Mouillerat and Aaron Ness have each tallied four points against the Crunch this season. Dustin Jeffrey leads the Sound Tigers in scoring with 58 points, 17 of which he's scored in 14 games since coming to Bridgeport after being traded from Vancouver to the New York Islanders at the NHL trade deadline.
Stephon Williams won Saturday vs. Syracuse and Monday vs. Worcester, his first two AHL games. Bridgeport has tried goalies Williams, C.J. Motte and Kent Simpson since dealing David Leggio to Portland. Kevin Poulin has served as the main starter between the pipes with a 16-19-7 record in 43 games, posting a .913 save percentage and 2.84 goals-against average.
Last time out
The Crunch overcame a two-goal deficit in the third period to tie the score at two when Kevin Lynch scored his second goal of the season with assists from Matthew Peca and Charlie Dodero. Peca's assist marked his first professional point after signing an amateur tryout with Syracuse on Apr. 1.
Johan Sundstrom scored the game-winner on the power-play, one of two goals scored by Bridgeport on the man advantage. Jonathan Marchessault scored the other Crunch goal in the 3-2 loss, his 22nd of the season.
Allen York started between the pipes for the Crunch and stopped 23 shots, dropping his record to 2-3-1 in eight appearances this year.
Special Teams
After stopping 43 of 47 opponent power play opportunities (91.5%) in March, including 20-straight chances, the Crunch have allowed six power play goals on 12 chances in April and rank 25th in the AHL (80.4%). Syracuse has failed to convert 16-straight attempts on the man-up, dating back to a 2-for-4 performance against Bridgeport on March 27. Jonathan Marchessault leads the Crunch with 19 power play points (6g, 13a).
Alan Quine's 25 power play points (6g, 19a) lead the Sound Tigers sixth ranked man advantage (19.0%). Ryan Pulock ranks second in the AHL with 13 power-play goals, two behind Hershey's Stanislav Galiev. Bridgeport ranks one spot behind Syracuse on the penalty kill with an 80.1% kill, 26th in the league. The Sound Tigers have killed 10 of their last 11 penalties.
