CRUNCH HONOR MILITARY IN GAME VS. SENS
 
After playing three games in three days last weekend, Syracuse kicks off a stretch of six games in nine days with tonight's matchup against Belleville.
 
The Crunch went 4-1-0-1 against the Senators last season to push their all-time record against Belleville to 10-1-1-2. Syracuse's Military Appreciation Night presented by Falso Service Experts marks the first time Syracuse and Belleville will meet this season.
 
LAST TIME OUT
 
The Hershey Bears handed the Crunch their first November regulation loss since Nov. 19, 2017 on Sunday. Bears winger Matt Moulson, the game's first star, potted two goals in the opening period of Syracuse's 4-2 loss in Hershey.
 
Center Ross Colton assisted on both Syracuse goals-off the sticks of Danick Martel and Cory Conacher-to tally his first multi-point game since March 9 against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Goaltender Spencer Martin, who was reassigned to Syracuse from the ECHL's Orlando Solar Bears a day earlier, turned aside 20 of 23 Bears shots in his Crunch debut.
 
Syracuse's penalty kill continued to shine, killing off all four Hershey power plays to boost its consecutive kill streak to a perfect 16-for-16 in the last four games. Its power-play unit, however, cooled off; after scoring on three of six power-play chances against Binghamton Saturday night, the Crunch went scoreless in three man-advantage opportunities in Hershey.
 
SCOUTING THE CRUNCH 
 
The Crunch (5-3-2-0) return to the War Memorial Arena tonight after picking up four of a possible six points in their first three-in-three weekend of the season. Syracuse began the three-game stretch with a pair of wins at home, pushing its November points streak to 17 games (15-0-2-0) dating back to 2017. However, the Crunch dropped their final matchup of the weekend to the Bears Sunday; it was Syracuse's first regulation loss since Oct. 19 against Charlotte.
 
Cory Conacher brings a three-game scoring streak into tonight's matchup with the Senators after his three-point performance in Week 5 (1g, 2a). The 29-year-old forward recorded an assist in each of Syracuse's home games and notched his 300th career AHL point with his helper Saturday against Binghamton. Conacher finished off the weekend with a goal in Hershey and now paces the Crunch with nine points (4g, 5a). Last season, the Ontario native piled up 23 points (8g, 15a) in November, earning AHL Player of the Month honors.
 
Daniel Walcott also picked up three points last weekend (1g, 2a). The 25-year-old forward kicked off the weekend with a goal and an assist against Bridgeport, his first multi-point performance since March 4, 2017. Walcott's goal was his first since April 13, 2018 after he played just five games last season due to a shoulder injury. It also marked the fifth game-winning goal of his AHL career; a converted defenseman, Walcott has 12 career AHL goals.
 
SCOUTING THE SENATORS 
 
The Belleville Senators (4-6-0-0) enter tonight's game with the fewest points in the North Division. The Senators, who have scored at least four goals in each of their past three games, make three trips to the War Memorial Arena this year; Belleville went 0-3-0-0 in Syracuse last year and was outscored 16-8 in those games. Belleville has never won in this building, posting an 0-6-0-1 record in two seasons. The Senators haven't played since Saturday, when they edged out the Hartford Wolf Pack, 5-4.
 
Forward Jordan Szwarz, who has five points over his last four games, leads Belleville into tonight's clash with the Crunch. The Senators captain was held without a point in his first four games, but he has five points (2g, 3a) since Oct. 26. Overall, the Senators are paced once again by Drake Batherson. The Indiana native has ten points (3g, 7a) in nine games this year. Last season, Batherson finished with 62 points (22g, 40a) in 59 games; he registered just one point in three games inside the War Memorial last year.
 
Colin White was assigned to Belleville on a conditioning loan by Ottawa yesterday. White, 22, has two points (1g, 1a) for Ottawa this season after recording 41 (14g, 27a) last year. He last saw AHL action in 2017-18, when he posted 27 points (11g, 16a) as a rookie.
 
The Senators haven't found a permanent solution in goal. Marcus Hogberg has played in a team-high seven games, posting a 3.94 goals-against average and .878 save percentage. Filip Gustavsson has a 4.26 goals-against average and .867 save percentage in four games played. Gustavsson, who picked up the win against Hartford, has allowed at least three goals in each of the four games he's played.
 
SPECIAL TEAMS 
 
The Crunch own one of the most potent power-play units in the entire league. Syracuse has registered a 24.4% success rate on the man advantage to top the North Division and rank fourth in the AHL. In the three games last weekend, the Crunch converted on three of 11 power-play opportunities, with all three goals against the Devils last Saturday. Alex Barré-Boulet paces Syracuse with three power-play markers this season.
 
The Senators rank fourth in the North Division at 17.5% with a man-up, 14th in the AHL. Belleville did not score on five power-play chances in the team's last game against Hartford on Saturday.
 
On the penalty kill, the Crunch put out 90.9% of opponents' man advantages, a mark that's third in the division and fifth in the league. Syracuse's three opponents last weekend went scoreless on 13 power-play chances. The Senators kill off penalties 83.0% of the time, fifth-best in the division and 16th in the AHL. Belleville only allowed one power-play goal on nine opportunities in the team's previous two games.
 
In the two sides' six meetings last season, the Crunch coughed up just three goals while being shorthanded 30 times. Conversely, Syracuse notched six power-play goals on 27 chances (22.2%).
 
MILITARY APPRECIATION NIGHT 
 
As part of Military Appreciation Night at the War Memorial Arena, the Crunch will hold a special pregame ceremony to dedicate two new POW/MIA chairs for the arena. Fans are asked to be in their seats before 7 p.m. for the ceremony.
 
The Crunch also announced Airman First Class Leonard J. Graf as the team's honorary captain. The Korean War veteran turned 90 years old Tuesday. He is a lifelong hockey fan and was among the original group of investors in 1967 to bring the EHL's Syracuse Blazers to Syracuse. He spoke to the team Wednesday and received a special military-inspired Crunch jersey.
 
During the game, the Crunch will wear those jerseys and 10 jerseys will be auctioned following the game. The list of jerseys to be auctioned off include Alex Barré-Boulet, Dennis Yan, Gemel Smith, Cory Conacher, Mitchell Stephens, Ben Thomas, Chris Mueller, Nolan Valleau, Spencer Martin and Luke Witkowski (all subject to change).