CRUNCH HEAD TO HARTFORD 
 
The Crunch play the middle game of their three-in-three weekend as they take on the Hartford Wolf Pack at the XL Center.
 
Tonight is the Crunch's lone trip to Hartford this season; the Crunch have won their last four games at the XL Center and they are 7-0-0-1 in the last eight head-to-head matches since the start of the 2017-18 season.
 
LAST TIME OUT
 
Akira Schmid outdueled Hugo Alnefelt to lead the Utica Comets to a 1-0 win over the Crunch last night at Upstate Medical University Arena.
 
Schmid turned aside all 23 Crunch bids throughout the night, which got progressively easier. After 11 first period shots, the Crunch totaled 12 over the final two periods, including just four in the third while trying to tie the game. 
 
Alnefelt was sharp for the Crunch, denying 29 shots, but he was bested by Graeme Clarke on a 2-on-1 play for the Comets out of the corner 7:21 into the third. That stood as the only tally as Alnefelt's personal six-game winning streak was snapped. 
 
SCOUTING THE CRUNCH
 
The Crunch's season-high six-game points streak (5-0-1-0) was shut down last night as the Crunch failed to score for the first time this season. It's their first shutout loss May 10, 2021, also against the Comets, ending a span of 119 consecutive regular season and playoff games with a goal. 
 
The Crunch's offense was slowed down during their three-game set with the Comets. After scoring at least five goals in the previous three games, the Crunch have totaled seven goals in the last four, including just four in the three-game series versus Utica. Syracuse's goals scored per game has dipped from 3.76 to 3.55 over the last four contests.
 
After suffering their first regulation loss since Jan. 8 at Hershey, the Crunch are 18-14-3-3 this season and remain in fourth place in the North Division with 42 points. 
 
ALNEFELT STAYS SHARP
 
Despite having his six-game winning streak broken last night, starter Hugo Alnefelt maintained his crisp play in the Crunch net with 29 saves.
 
Since Dec. 10, the 21-year-old has posted a 6-1-0 record while playing to a 1.73 goals-against average and a .942 save percentage.
 
Overall, the Swede is 10-5-1 with a 2.35 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage, which ranks fifth in the AHL.
 
SCOUTING THE WOLF PACK
 
The Wolf Pack return home tonight following a quick trip to Providence last night that resulted in an overtime win. Hartford has split two games this week, including a loss vs. Bridgeport. The Wolf Pack's win last night ended a stretch of five games in 14 days head-to-head with Providence; the Pack went 3-1-1-0 against the Bruins.
 
After a 5-9-1-4 start to the season, Hartford has ripped off 12 wins in their last 22 games (12-6-2-2) to improve to 17-15-3-6. Although technically in last place in the Atlantic Division, they are one of four teams tied at 43 points this season.
 
Named an AHL All-Star earlier in the day, Zac Jones capped his night with the overtime winner against the Bruins. He has 15 points (5g, 10a) in 23 games with Hartford after being sent down by New York. Turner Elson leads the team in scoring with 24 points (9g, 15a) in 41 games. 
 
GETTING BLANKED
 
Last night was the first time the Crunch were shut out in a game since May 10, 2021, a span of 119 consecutive regular season and playoff games with a goal. They were the 24th different team to be held scoreless this season. Last season, the Crunch were the only team in the AHL to score at least one goal in every game. 
 
The Crunch have been blanked just twice since the start of the 2019-20 season, and they have responded with a win in the next game in both instances.
 
THE MONTMAGNY CONNECTION
 
Tonight marks the first pro meeting between Alex Barré-Boulet and Sammy Blais, who grew up together in Montmagny, Quebec, a small city near Quebec City. The two played together on several teams on their ways to being drafted into the QMJHL in 2013. They both jumped fully into the QMJHL in 2014-15, Barré-Boulet with Drummondville and Blais with Victoriaville.
 
Blais is on a conditioning loan with Hartford. He won the Stanley Cup with St. Louis in 2019 and brought the Cup back to their hometown for his day with the Cup. 
 
ROAD TOUGH
 
The Crunch carry a three-game road winning streak into tonight's match in Hartford. It is tied for their longest streak of the season (Nov. 5-19). Syracuse has outscored opponents 10-4 during their three-game streak, which includes wins at Lehigh Valley, at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and at Utica.
 
After beginning the season winless in their first six road games (0-4-0-2), the Crunch are 8-4-0-0 in the last 12 road contests to climb back to 0.500 (8-8-0-2) away from Syracuse.
 
THREE-IN-THREE
 
The Crunch are in the middle of their second three-in-three weekend of the season, and they are winless in four games (0-3-0-1). Their first instance saw the team fail to win a game for the first time over a three-in-three weekend since April 2016.
 
After finishing the weekend tomorrow afternoon in Providence, the Crunch will have three more three-in-three sets this season. The next will be the final weekend of February.
 
FRIENDLY CONFINES
 
The Crunch put up eight goals in last year's trip to Hartford (April 2). They had two-goal outings from Simon Ryfors and Anthony Richard in an 8-5 win. They have scored 20 goals during their four-game winning streak at the XL Center.
 
Ryfors led the head-to-head series last season with five points (2g, 3a) in two games.