Last time out
The Crunch scored six goals for the first time in almost a year (March, 25, 2015) in a 6-3 victory Sunday in Springfield. Five players collected multiple points—including a trio of three-point performers—helping Syracuse record back-to-back wins for the first time since Jan. 16-18. Adam Wilcox denied 32 of 35 shots for his eighth win, shaving his goals-against average to 3.29 (down from 3.54 Feb. 28).

Tanner Richard posted his third three-point game of the year (his second in four contests) with two assists and the game-winning goal, his second straight. Richard totaled two game-winners in his first 183 AHL games. His 42 points lead Syracuse while his 33 assists are tied for fourth in the AHL. Joel Vermin scored a goal, his first since Nov. 14.

Mike Blunden had his second three-point game of the year (2g, 1a) and Tye McGinn had his first (1g, 2a). McGinn's eighth multi-point effort of the year marked the fourth time in his career he had at least three points in a game. Tony DeAngelo extended his scoring streak to seven games with his fifth multi-point performance (1g, 1a). He's 10th in AHL rookie scoring and seventh for defensemen at 36 points. Matthew Peca had his seventh multi-point game (2a), his second since returning from injury.

Blunden reaches new heights 
Not only has 6-foot-4 alternate captain Mike Blunden taken over the title of tallest player on the Syracuse roster (recently traded Joey Mormina previously held the distinction at 6-foot-6), Blunden has established new career highs in goals (21) and points (38)—with 17 games to play. He totaled 18 goals and 37 points in 68 games with Hamilton in 2013-14. He also hit 37 points in 74 games with Rockford in 2007-08.  

Blunden recorded his 13th multi-point game Sunday in Springfield (2g, 1a). Eleven of his last 21 games have been multi-point performances, amassing 24 points (14g, 10a) in that span (since Jan. 16). He's sizzled in the last eight games, posting eight goals and 11 points. Six of the eight scores are power-play markers. His six multi-goal games are double any other Crunch player. He had nine multi-goal games in his 10-year career before this season.

Scouting the Sound Tigers
The Sound Tigers have won their last two games and rank fifth in the Atlantic Division at 31-22-3-3 (.576). In the only previous meeting with Syracuse, Nov. 29 at Webster Bank Arena, Kristers Gudlevskis shut out the Sound Tigers with 31 saves and Mike Blunden scored twice.

Rookie Stephon Williams suffered that loss and is 8-9-0 in 17 games. Christopher Gibson has seen more than twice as much hockey with 38 appearances a 17-10-6 record with two shutouts and a 2.76 goals-against average.

Bracken Kearns owns most of the club's top offensive marks with 21 goals, 28 assists, 49 points, 12 power-play points, 114 shots and a plus-21 while appearing in 58 of 59 games. He ranks tied for seventh in AHL scoring. The team's power play ranks 29th in the AHL and last on the road at 7.8% (9-for-115). 

Special Teams
Syracuse's power play ranks ninth in the AHL (18.7%) after scoring three goals in eight attempts at Springfield Sunday. Over their last four games, the Crunch have gone 6-for-21 on the man advantage, including a one-for-three performance in their last home game on March 2. Syracuse is fifth in the league for home power plays, converting at 22.0%. Bridgeport's power play ranks 29th in the AHL at 12.0% (28-for-234) and 30th on the road at 7.8% (9-for-115).

The Crunch went 6-for-7 on the penalty kill Sunday, boosting its season efficiency to 79.5%, 28th in the league. Syracuse has killed off eight of nine penalties in its last three home games, leaving its home mark at 82.9% (22nd). Bridgeport's penalty kill is 13th on the road (83.2%) and ninth overall (84.5%) this season. The Sound Tigers have allowed power-play goals in four consecutive games (4-for-18).

Lightning Flash
Following back-to-back losses, the Lightning host the Philadelphia Flyers at Amalie Arena on Friday night.  Tampa Bay had its franchise-record nine-game win streak snapped Monday at Philadelphia, when the Flyers defeated the Lightning 4-2. Even so, Tampa Bay holds a 21-7-1 mark since the start of January and sits just one point back of first place in the Atlantic Division. 

The Lightning held the division's top spot heading into its most recent game on Tuesday, but a 1-0 loss to the Bruins gave Boston the division lead.  Tyler Johnson has earned points in seven of the last 10 games (Lightning are 12-0-0 when he scores), while Ondrej Palat has four goals in his last four games. Nikita Kucherov is expected to appear in his 200th NHL game tonight.