CRUNCH EYE SECOND STRAIGHT WIN
 
The Crunch look to remain perfect on home ice as they host the Belleville Senators tonight at Upstate Medical University Arena.
 
It's the third of eight head-to-head meetings this season, and the second in a fortnight. The Crunch have won both matches this season, including a 2-1 shootout win in their home opener last month.
 
BROADCAST COVERAGE
 
Countdown to Crunch Time at 6:45 p.m.
Streaming: Pay-to-watch video via AHLTV on FloHockey | www.syracusecrunch.com/watch
Radio: ESPN Radio Syracuse | www.espncny.com
 
LAST TIME OUT
 
Max Crozier scored 41 seconds into overtime and the Crunch defeated the Hartford Wolf Pack, 3-2, last night at Upstate Medical University Arena.
 
The Crunch took a 1-0 lead at 5:23 of the first period on a power-play goal from Dylan Duke. Logan Brown sent the puck toward the net, where it bounced off the pad of goaltender Dylan Garand before Duke hammered it home for his fourth goal of the season.
 
The Wolf Pack answered back with a pair of second period goals on two 2-on-1 rushes. Anton Blidh tied the score with a shorthanded goal at 13:52. A few minutes later, Blade Jenkins cashed in off the rush to give the Wolf Pack a 2-1 lead.
 
Syracuse leveled the score 1:31 into the third period when Declan Carlile played a puck into the crease, where it bounced off Niko Huuhtanen and in to make it 2-2.
 
Crozier ended the game by finishing a scramble sequence and ripping a loose puck into an open net from the right circle for the 3-2 win.
 
SCOUTING THE CRUNCH
 
The Crunch improved to 5-3-0-0 this season with their win last night against Hartford. They have 10 points and are in third place in the North Division.
 
They have been the stingiest team in the AHL so far in 2024-25, allowing 14 goals in eight games. Their 1.75 goals allowed per game is the best mark in the AHL. The Crunch have given up three goals total in three home games.
 
Dylan Duke scored his team-leading fourth goal of the season last night to open the scoring. He has staked the Crunch to a 1-0 lead in the last two home games. His four goals are tied for second among AHL rookies and his seven points — which lead the Crunch — are tied for sixth among first-year players.
 
SZTURC EXTENDS HIS STREAK
 
Rookie Gabriel Szturc extended his scoring streak to four straight games by assisting on Max Crozier's overtime game-winning goal. The set up gives Szturc six assists in the last four games.
 
The streak began when he had two assists — his first two AHL assists — Oct. 20 at Belleville. After another two-assist game last Friday against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Szturc nabbed another assist Saturday against the Penguins. 
 
The 21-year-old is still in search of his first career AHL goal, but he leads the Crunch and is tied for second among AHL rookies with six assists.
 
HOT START AT HOME
 
The Crunch are 3-0-0-0 at home for the first time since 2009-10. Syracuse opened that season with points in its first four home games (3-0-1-0). 
 
The Crunch are one of five teams without a home loss this season, along with Laval (5-0-0-0), Toronto (5-0-0-0), Milwaukee (2-0-0-0) and San Jose (3-0-0-0). 
 
Syracuse's best start on home ice in team history was a 7-0-0-0 record to open the 2008-09 season.
 
CROZIER SENDS THE FANS HOME HAPPY
 
Max Crozier finished last night's contest with his first career overtime game-winning goal. The second-year pro scored 41 seconds into overtime to give the Crunch their first overtime win this season. It was also Crozier's first point of the year; last year the Providence College product had 21 points (4g, 17a) in 49 games.
 
The Crunch are now 2-0 in games that have gone past regulation, including a shootout win against the Senators on Oct. 12. The Senators have gone to overtime in four of their seven games this season. All of those have gone to a shootout, where they are 1-3.
 
HEAD-TO-HEAD  
 
The Crunch have won the first two games of the eight-game series against the Senators. They've captured a win at home and on the road, dealing the Sens their lone regulation loss of the season on Oct. 20.
 
There is some bad blood between the clubs; they combined for 66 penalty minutes in their most recent matchup in Belleville two weeks ago. Derrick Pouliot (2g, 1a) and Dylan Duke (1g, 2a) both had three-point outings and are tied for the series lead in scoring. Garrett Pilon (1g, 2a) has three points in two games for the Senators.
 
Matt Tomkins has started and won both games for the Crunch, allowing three goals on 63 shots for a .952 save percentage.
 
SCOUTING THE SENATORS
 
The Senators were idle last night after suffering a shootout loss, 3-2, on home ice against the Providence Bruins on Wednesday. The Senators have gone to a shootout in three straight games (2-1). Overall, the Senators have earned a standings points in six of their first seven games (3-1-0-3), good for nine points and fourth place in the North Division.  
 
Cole Reinhardt tops Belleville in scoring with six points (3g, 3a) in four games played. After a two-game stint with Ottawa, Reinhardt returned to the Belleville lineup Wednesday and scored in the loss to the Bruins. 
 
Defenseman Jeremy Davies, who scored a goal against the Crunch in their last meeting, is tied for the Senators lead with three goals. He also tallied on Wednesday against Providence.
The Senators have earned a standings point in their first three road games (1-0-0-2). Last year, Belleville posted an 18-16-1-1 record on the road.