Top performers
Tanner Richard recorded his first professional hat trick in Saturday's 7-2 win vs. Rochester. Richard, Syracuse's leading scorer last year at 54 points (11g, 43a), had four points in Week 5 (3g, 1a) for a season total of six points (3g, 3a) in eight games. Saturday's hat trick marks the third multi-goal game of Richard's career (222 games). He scored twice Feb. 28, 2015 vs. Utica and twice Nov. 9, 2014, at W-B/Scranton. Richard has 26 career multi-point games, including seven career three-point games and two Gordie Howe hat tricks.

Yanni Gourde extended his scoring streak to four games (2g, 5a) by collecting four points in Week 5, equaling Tanner Richard for the team's best production of the week. Gourde had an assist Friday vs. Bridgeport followed by a goal and two helpers Saturday vs. Rochester. Gourde is tied for the team lead with goals (4) and game-winning goals (2). He has two multi-point games this year and is three assists shy of 100 for his AHL career (253 games). At nine points (4g, 5a), he's third on the Crunch. 

Cory Conacher took sole possession of the Crunch scoring lead with three assists Saturday for a season total of 11 points (3g, 8a) in nine games. He has 119 points in 120 career AHL regular season games with the Lightning organization (Syracuse and Norfolk). Conacher has three multi-point games with Syracuse this year, two of which are three-point efforts. Eight of his points have come versus Rochester.

Matt Taormina has points in all but one game he's played this year. On a five-game scoring streak (1g, 4a) that began Oct. 16, Taormina posted his first goal of the season Friday vs. Bridgeport and became the seventh Crunch player to record a power-play goal this season. He has 30 man-up markers in his pro career (434 games), 29 in the AHL and one in the NHL. His assist Saturday also came on the power play, his second man-up helper. Last season he had 20 power-play points (5g, 15a).

Scouting the Bears
The Bears, affiliate of the Washington Capitals, are fourth in the Atlantic Division and seventh in the Eastern Conference at 7-4-2-1 (.607 points percentage). Hershey had lost three straight, allowing 13 goals combined in the three losses, before winning in Utica Wednesday, 4-2.

Chris Bourque, who scored his second goal Wednesday, leads Hershey with 13 points (2g, 11a). The 12th-year pro was named AHL MVP last season, leading Hershey with 80 points (30g, 50a). Bourque also posted 12 points (4g, 8a) in the Bears' run to the Calder Cup Finals, where Hershey lost to the Lake Erie Monsters.