Game 32: Syracuse Crunch (14-12-4-1) at Toronto Marlies (25-7-2-0)3 p.m., Ricoh Coliseum, Toronto, Ontario
After consecutive road victories for the first time this season, the Crunch continue a six-game trek in Toronto against the league-leading Marlies. The clubs meet Saturday and Sunday at 3 p.m. Syracuse won 2-1 when it last visited Ricoh Coliseum, but the Marlies have two wins at Syracuse.
Even with losses in two of the last three games, Toronto has nine points more than any other AHL club (.765).The Crunch are fifth in the North Division and ninth in the Eastern Conference (.532).
Broadcast Coverage | Countdown to Crunch Time at 2:45 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. | #BelieveInBlueLast Time Out Adam Erne potted his third and fourth goals of the season—his first carere multi-goal game
—as the Crunch toppled the Atlantic Division-leading W-B/Scranton Penguins, 4-2, on New Year's Eve. Other multi-point performers were Mike Blunden (1g, 1a) and Tanner Richard (2a).
Slater Koekkoek added an empty-net goal.
Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 28 of 30 shots including a series of stunning saves in the third period. The Pens hold the season series lead, 2-1.
Scouting the MarliesThe Marlies lead the AHL in multiple categories including goals per game, 3.88. Three of the AHL's top 10 scorers are Marlies including William Nylander (14g, 20a), T.J. Brennan (12g, 16a) and Mark Arcobello (12g, 15a). However, only Brennan remains on the Marlies active roster; Nylander has joined Sweden at the World Junior Championships and Arcobello was recalled by the Maple Leafs Dec. 30.
Six goalies have seen action for Toronto. Antoine Bibeau (10-3-0, 3.28) is 1-1 vs. Syracuse but was recalled the Maple Leafs Dec. 30. Veteran Ray Emery is 1-1 with the Marlies since being acquired from the Kings organization. Rob Madore is 2-0 since joining the Marlies from the ECHL's Orlando Solar Bears.  The team's 2.47 goals-against average is sixth in the AHL.
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Lightning FlashTwo players have been reassigned to the Crunch from Tampa Bay since Syracuse's last game. Goalies
Andrei Vasilevskiy and
Kristers Gudlevskis have swapped places, while the return of Ondrej Palat from injury has prompted the reassingnment of
Jonathan Drouin to the Crunch. Drouin last played for Syracuse on a conditioning assignment in October of 2014. The Bolts host Minnesota today at 7 p.m. to end a six-game homestand.
