CRUNCH FINISH SEASON SERIES WITH MARLIES
 
The Crunch play the final game of a three-in-three weekend, and close out their season series with the Toronto Marlies today at Coca-Cola Coliseum.
 
It's the sixth head-to-head meeting this season, but the first in over two months. Toronto has earned three wins to the Crunch's two.
 
LAST TIME OUT
 
The Crunch were stymied in a 4-1 home loss to the Hartford Wolf Pack last night.
 
Both teams found the scoresheet in the opening three minutes of the game. Ryan Carpenter scored first for the Wolf Pack. just 1:16 into the game. He whipped a shot from the right circle that squeezed through the pads of Hugo Alnefelt to make it 1-0. Just over a minute later, the Crunch answered on a slap shot from above the right circle by Gabriel Dumont that beat Louis Domingue over the left shoulder to tie the game. 
 
Domingue, plus Hartford's special teams proved to be the difference the rest of the way. The Wolf Pack netminder finished with 37 saves, while they got both a power-play goal and shorthanded goal from Jonny Brodzinski to build a 3-1 lead. Will Cuylle added an empty-net goal to seal the 4-1 win and earn a split of their two-game series.
 
It was Hartford's first regulation win versus the Crunch since Dec. 21, 2016.
 
SCOUTING THE CRUNCH
 
The Crunch saw their three-game winning streak end in last night's loss to Hartford. The Crunch were held to just one goal, and have totaled seven in three games since their eight goal outburst at Utica last Saturday. The Crunch are 24-19-4-3 after 50 games, and they remain in third place in the North Division with 55 points. Syracuse is two points behind Utica in the division, but one of its three games in hand was used yesterday and another will be used today.
 
The Crunch wrap up their third three-in-three weekend today. They were swept (0-2-0-1) in their first and grabbed two of three (2-1-0-0) in their second. 
 
Gabriel Dumont picked up the Crunch's lone goal last night. He has nabbed points in both games this weekend, and carries 27 points (14g, 13a) into the weekend finale. Despite being held to one assist in three games against the Marlies this season, the Crunch's captain has 44 points (16g, 28a) in 78 career games versus the Marlies.
 
Hugo Alnefelt returned from a five-game injury absence last night, but took his third straight loss. His last personal win came Feb. 1 vs. Utica; Alnefelt is 12-8-1 with a 2.36 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage this season.
 
WALKER DEBUTS
 
Crunch forward Dan Walker made his AHL/pro debut and made his presence felt throughout the night. The 6-foot-6, 229-pound winger found his name all over the scoresheet, picking up a minor penalty, two fights and an automatic game misconduct for a total of 22 penalty minutes. He also had two good scoring chances and finished with two shots on goal.
 
Walker, 23, just completed his season at the University of Waterloo, where he accumulated 90 penalty minutes in 23 games this season. The Sudbury, Ontario native played four seasons in the OHL for North Bay and Oshawa, netting 303 PIMs in 153 games. Walker signed an AHL contract with the Crunch Feb. 17.
 
SCOUTING THE MARLIES
 
Toronto has run away with the North Division this season. The Marlies pushed their win streak to three games with a 3-2 home win yesterday versus Laval. The Marlies lead the Eastern Conference with 75 points (36-13-2-1) and they have an 18 point lead over second-place Utica, by far the largest margin for any division leader. They are 23-5-1-1 in 30 games since their last game against the Crunch
 
The Marlies have manhandled the North Division this season to the tune of a 24-9-0-1 record. The next closest team in terms of divisional wins within the North is Rochester at 19 (19-14-2-1).
 
Toronto captain Logan Shaw leads the way with 57 points (17g, 40a) in 52 games. He's a key contributor on the league's top power play, where he has added 25 points (9g, 16a). Their leading goal scorer Adam Gaudette was included in the Maple Leafs trade with St. Louis last week, leaving Bobby McMann as the top active goal scorer with 18 Marlies tallies. He added another yesterday in their win over Laval.
 
Keith Petruzzelli has been a consistent factor in Toronto's crease. He is 12-5-0 with a 2.92 goals-against average and a .904 save percentage.
 
HEAD-TO-HEAD
 
The Crunch and Marlies have not gone head-to-head since Dec. 9, when the Marlies won, 5-2, in Syracuse. That gave Toronto its third win in five games against the Crunch (2-2-1-0). Syracuse can claim the season series with a regulation win today.
 
Alex Barré-Boulet has gobbled up points against Toronto; he leads with eight (4g, 4a) in five games. Darren Raddysh has also been a useful scorer with four points (1g, 3a) from the blue line.
 
Semyon Der-Arguchintsev paces the Marlies in the series with six points (3g, 3a) in five games. He is supported by Alex Steeves' five points (3g, 2a). 
 
Keith Petruzzelli has started four of the five previous games against the Crunch. He is 3-1-0 with a 3.25 goals-against average and a .900 save percentage.
 
SPECIAL TEAMS
 
The Crunch lost the special teams battle, and thus lost the game last night against the Wolf Pack. They allowed both a power-play goal and a shorthanded goal; they've lost all four games when allowing a shorthanded goal, including one Oct. 26 at Toronto. Syracuse is 5-10-2-0 in games when giving up more power-play goals than they score.
 
The Marlies bring in the top power play in the league at 26.4%, scoring 53 power-play goals this season. They are over 30% on home ice, where they've scored 27 goals. Toronto has gone 5-for-25 (25.0%) against the Crunch this season.