CRUNCH BACK AT IT WITH A ROAD GAME IN BELLEVILLE
 
The Crunch open the final week of March with a visit to Belleville for a match with the Senators.
 
It is the fifth of six head-to-head meetings this season and the second of three at CAA Arena. The Crunch opened the series with three wins in Syracuse, but the Sens responded with a 3-0 win in Belleville Feb. 13.   
 
LAST TIME OUT
 
The Bridgeport Sound Tigers scored three goals in the second period and defeated the Crunch, 4-1, Sunday at Webster Bank Arena.
 
The teams played a scoreless first period before the Sound Tigers opened things up in the second. They took a 1-0 lead 2:45 into the period as Chris Bourque scored during a delayed penalty. The teams then traded three goals in three minutes late in the period. Travis St. Denis potted a power-play goal with a one-timer from the slot to make it 2-0 at 14:49. The Crunch pulled within one just over a minute later when Alex Barré-Boulet sniped a shot from the left circle. Bridgeport responded with a Parker Wotherspoon tally less than two minutes later to set the score at 3-1.  
 
In the third period, Cory Conacher was awarded a penalty shot just 3:10 into the period, but Jeremy Smith made the save on the attempt to keep the Sound Tigers ahead by two. Otto Koivula put the game away with an empty-net goal from his defensive zone. 
Atte Tolvanen made 26 saves on 29 shots in his AHL debut, but took the loss for the Crunch.
 
SCOUTING THE CRUNCH  
 
The Crunch have arrive at the final week of what is tied for the busiest month in franchise history—16 games. The Crunch are 9-3-1-0 in 13 games this month; it is the third month this season they've had at least nine wins, going 9-0-2-0 in November and 9-3-0-0 in December. The strong March has put the Crunch three points ahead of the Rochester Americans for the top spot in the North Division with nine games remaining this season.
 
Alex Barré-Boulet led the way for the Crunch last week, logging a point in all four games and extending his scoring streak to five games (3g, 2a). It's his longest streak since a nine-game run Nov. 11-Dec. 12, which remains tied for the longest in the AHL this season. The rookie has netted a point in 15 of the last 17 games dating to Feb. 18, producing 19 points (11g, 8a) to lead the Crunch and rank third in the league in that span.
 
Barré-Boulet scored three goals last week to take over the league lead with 32 tallies this season. That mark has also established a new franchise rookie record, moving past Lonny Bohonos and Geoff Platt, who both score 30 as rookies. Barré-Boulet leads all AHL rookies with 60 points (32g, 28a).
 
He scored his 30th goal of the year last Tuesday with an overtime game-winning goal in Charlotte; his sixth game-winner is also a Crunch rookie record. The record-setting goal came on Saturday as he scored his 16th power-play goal, which also ties a Crunch rookie record (Platt). He is the fifth Crunch rookie to reach 60 points in a season.
 
ONE DEBUT LEADS TO ANOTHER  
 
Fresh out of college, goaltender Atte Tolvanen made his AHL debut Sunday against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. The Northern Michigan product stopped 26-of-29 shots in his first professional appearance, absorbing the loss for the Crunch.
 
Today, forward Ryan Lohin is poised to make his professional debut after completing his collegiate career with UMass-Lowell. The 22-year-old center spent three years with the River Hawks, where he totaled 81 points (33g, 48a) in 110 games. 
 
Lohin is a seventh round pick, number 208 overall, by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. He signed an entry-level contract with the Lightning last week and is with the Crunch on an Amateur Tryout (ATO) for the remainder of the season.
 
SCOUTING THE SENATORS  
 
After opening a six-point lead for the final playoff spot in the North Division with last Wednesday's win over Utica, the Senators have lost back-to-back games in regulation. Those losses, coupled with three straight wins by Cleveland and the Senators are currently tied for the final playoff spot with the Monsters at 74 points. Since Cleveland ended the Sens' 17-game points streak, Belleville is only 3-4-0-1.
 
Rookie Drake Batherson leads the Senators with 56 points (21g, 35a) in 51 games. He has been held to just one point in the last five games. Batherson only trails the Crunch's Alex Barré-Boulet (60) and Bakersfield's Tyler Benson (57) for most points this season by a rookie. He has three points (1g, 2a) in four games against the Crunch.
 
Batherson is tied for the team lead in goal scoring at 21 goals with Jack Rodewald. In his third season with the Senators AHL affiliate, Rodewald has set AHL career-highs in goals (21), assists (23) and points (44). The undrafted winger has 98 career points (53g, 45a) in 195 games for the Senators (Binghamton and Belleville) and the Toronto Marlies. He has also dressed in 10 games for Ottawa over the last two seasons, but he has not recorded a point. 
 
Belleville has ridden goaltender Marcus Hogberg in the second half of the season. He started 16 straight games between Feb. 10 and March 22 before finally getting a night off over the weekend. Hogberg is 17-7-6 with a 2.37 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage; he has two shutouts, including one against the Crunch.
 
SPECIAL TEAMS
 
The Crunch have scored two power-play goals over the last four games, with both coming in last Saturday's win over Utica. They were 0-for-2 Sunday in Bridgeport and have only generated more than three chances in a game once in the last seven games (March 20 at Charlotte). In that span, the Crunch are 4-for-21 (19.0%) and they are tied for fifth overall in the AHL, connecting at 21.0%.
 
The Senators power play was held scoreless in a total of nine chances in their back-to-back losses over the weekend. They were 0-for-3 in Providence and 0-for-6 in Bridgeport to slide to 18.6% on the season, which ranks 15th in the AHL. The Sens are back home, where they've been better than on the road, operating at 21.8%, which ranks seventh.
 
The Crunch have allowed a power-play goal in seven of the last eight games, giving up nine goals in 40 chances (77.5%). Syracuse still ranks fifth in the league on the penalty kill at 84.3% while being shorthanded more than any team this season.
 
Belleville holds the league's lowest ranked penalty kill, successfully killing on 76.4% of opponents' power plays this season. The Senators have allowed a league-high 67 power-play goals, including six against the Crunch. Despite their 2-1 loss to the Sound Tigers on Saturday, the Sens went 5-for-5 on the penalty kill.