Crunch conclude weekend in Laval 
The Crunch (3-5-1-2) play the final game of their three-game trip to Canada with the second of back-to-back matches against the Laval Rocket (6-4-2-0) at Place Bell. Laval handed the Crunch their second straight shootout defeat, 6-5, last night in the inaugural meeting between the clubs. 

Last time out
In a high-scoring game, both the Crunch and the Rocket overcame deficits, but Laval prevailed, 6-5, in a shootout at Place Bell last night. 

The Crunch opened a 3-1 lead less than five minutes into the second period. Ben Thomas scored a pair of power-play goals and Mathieu Joseph netted his first as a pro to establish the advantage for the Crunch. The Rocket flew past the Crunch with three goals in a span of 3:47 in the second to go up 4-3.

In the third period, Dominik Masin tied the game with an innocent drive from the left circle that ended up just under the crossbar at 9:30. The Rocket answer back with their third power-play goal at 11:24 to take a 5-4 lead which last just five seconds. On the ensuing faceoff Joseph bolted between the defense and fired in his second goal of the night to tie the game 5-5.

After trading chances in overtime, Laval won the game in a shootout. Cory Conacher scored to put the Crunch in a position for two points, but Peter Holland scored in the third round and Byron Froese scored in the fourth round to give Laval the 6-5 win.  
  
Back in Quebec
The weekend series is a homecoming for a handful of Crunch players who grew up in the Provience of Quebec, starting with Crunch head coach Ben Groulx.

Mathieu Joseph, from Chambly, Quebec, which is just on the opposite side of Montreal from Laval, scored his first two goals as a pro and ended up with a three-point game playing in front of a large group of family and friends.

Daniel Walcott, from Ile-Perrot, Quebec, a short drive from Laval and Michael Bournival from Shawinigan, about an hour and a half away, also returned to Quebec. Walcott played two seasons in the QMJHL with the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, just outside of Laval. Bournival played for his hometown Shawinigan Cataractes, helping the team win the Memorial Cup in 2012. 
 
Scouting the Crunch
Despite another shootout setback, the Crunch have points in three straight games (1-0-0-2) for the first time this year, leaving Syracuse at 3-5-1-2, seventh place in the North Division with a .409 points percentage.

Ben Thomas and Mathieu Joseph lead the charge offensively for the Crunch in the loss; both players finished with three-point games (2g, 1a). Thomas scored both of his goals on the power play and his outburst leaves him tied for third on the team with six points (2g, 4a). It was his first multi-goal game and first three-point performance as a pro. His last two-goal game came Nov. 7, 2015 for the Vancouver Giants (WHL) and his only three point game came one year prior, Nov 7, 2014 for the Calgary Hitmen (WHL).

Joseph's two goals were his first two professional goals, becoming the fifth Crunch player to notch a first pro goal this season. He had five two-goal games in his last regular season with the Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL) and three more during the playoffs, most recently Apr. 26, 2017.

Anthony Cirelli had two more assists and is second on the Crunch with eight points (2g, 6a) after his second multi-point game of the season. His eight points are tied for seventh among AHL rookies.

After missing Wednesday with an injury, Tye McGinn returned to the lineup healthy last night and earned his first two assists of the season. McGinn had four multi-point games in limited action last season and he added three more in the 2017 Calder Cup Playoffs.

Scouting the Rocket
Laval was shut out Wednesday to begin the week, but the Rocket's offense came back to life last night in their first win over the Crunch. Laval is 6-4-2-0, fourth in the North Division with a .583 points percentage.

Former Crunch defenseman Matt Taormina had two points (1g, 1a) last night, and he leads the team with 13 points (2g, 11a) in 12 games. Both points were on the power play and he leads the AHL with 10 power-play points (2g, 8a).   

Byron Froese, named captain of the Rocket Friday morning, had two points (1g, 1a) and then scored the shootout game-winning goal to produce a win in his first game as a captain. The former Crunch forward is fourth on the Rocket with 10 points (3g, 7a) in 12 games.

The Rocket are fourth in the league, averaging 3.67 goals per game, but they are 27th with 3.83 goals against per game.  

Special teams
The Crunch and Rocket went a combined 5-for-15 (33.3%) in last night's game. Syracuse was 2-for-8, giving the Crunch five power-play goals in the last three games and multiple power-play goals in both games this week. Laval's 3-for-7 effort pushes them to third in the league (24.1%) and gives the Rocket a league-high 14 power-play goals.

It was just the second time this year the Crunch allowed more than one goal on the opponent's man advantage; Syracuse allowed two goals in seven chances in its 3-2 loss to Utica Oct. 14.