CRUNCH FINISH OFF SERIES AGAINST MARLIES
 
The Crunch finish off their two-game weekend set against the Toronto Marlies tonight at Upstate Medical University Arena.
 
This marks the final game of the eight-game season series between the clubs. Toronto's shootout win last night was their first win over the Crunch; Syracuse has a earned a standings point in each game (6-0-0-1).
 
LAST TIME OUT
 
The Crunch forced overtime with a late tying goal, but fell in a shootout to the Toronto Marlies, 2-1, last night in Syracuse.
 
After a scoreless first period that featured three early Toronto power plays, the Marlies cashed in on their fourth opportunity to take a 1-0 lead in the second period. A quick passing sequence from Alex Steeves to Nick Abruzzese to Logan Shaw resulted in Shaw's slot one-timer for his 29th goal of the season.
 
Syracuse tied the game with less than five minutes to play in the third. Gabe Fortier made a pass off the left wall to Alex Barré-Boulet at the left circle. Barré-Boulet corralled the puck, turned and sniped his fourth of the season to tie the score with 4:50 left in the third.
 
Neither team scored in overtime. The Crunch went 0-for-3 in the shootout against Dennis Hildeby while Alex Steeves, who had two breakaway chances in the third period, netted the lone tally against Brandon Halverson to give the Marlies the win. 
 
PUCKS FOR PAWS
 
The Crunch are hosting their 14th annual Pucks for Paws tonight at Upstate Medical University Arena.
 
All proceeds from the dog tickets will benefit the Priscilla Mahar Animal Welfare Foundation. Humans and dogs will be able to sit together in Sections 223 through 225. Dogs must be escorted by their owners at all times.
 
During the game, the Crunch will sell Pucks for Paws mystery pucks on the concourse and through the GiveSmart Platform for $15 with the proceeds benefiting the Priscilla Mahar Animal Welfare Foundation.
 
SCOUTING THE CRUNCH
 
The Crunch are down to their final four games of the regular season – two at home and two on the road. Syracuse holds first place in the North Division entering today's action with 83 points and a 38-23-4-3 record. The Crunch's magic number to win the division stands at seven.
 
Gage Goncalves is the team leader in points with 54 (12g, 42a) in 65 games this season. A point tonight would eclipse his career high from last season when he had 54 points (13g, 41a) in 71 appearances. Goncalves leads the AHL with 22 power-play assists, one ahead of former teammate Jack Thompson, who was traded to San Jose last month.
 
Alex Barré-Boulet broke a two-game point drought and a seven-game goal drought with his tying goal last night. He is two points away from becoming the first Crunch player to ever post 300 points with the franchise; he holds the franchise mark with 298 points in 290 games. 
 
SCOUTING THE MARLIES
 
Toronto (33-23-10-2) can clinch a playoff spot with a win tonight provided that Utica loses to Providence. The Marlies can also earn a playoff berth if tonight's game goes into overtime, and the Comets fall in regulation.
 
The Marlies enter tonight's matchup with the highest-scoring offense in the North Division at 238 goals, just two tallies behind the top team in the league in that category in the Coachella Valley Firebirds.
 
When trailing after the first period, the Marlies are 3-13-1-0. Leading Toronto that early is the real challenge, though. The Marlies have trailed after the opening frame just 17 times, the third-best mark in the AHL behind Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Hershey.
 
The Marlies are potent on offense in the third period, when they have a league-best 91 goals. That's the most by any team in any single period in the AHL.
 
HEAD-TO-HEAD  
 
The Crunch and Marlies complete their fourth of four two-game sets this season. The team that has won the first game of the set has gone on to win the second one in the three previous weekends. The Crunch are 6-0-0-1 against the Marlies this season. They are 6-1-1-2 in the last 10 home games against the Marlies.
 
Syracuse has only played one eight-game series in team history without a regulation loss (2017-18 vs. Belleville, 6-0-1-1).
 
Gage Goncalves leads active players with seven points (2g, 5a) in the series. Last night was the first time this season he did not log a point against the Marlies. Logan Shaw's tally last night was his second against the Crunch in seven matches. It was Toronto's fifth power-play goal against the Crunch (5-for-31, 16.1%).
 
Hugo Alnefelt has won his three starts against the Marlies, posting a 1.67 goals-against average and a .935 save percentage. 
 
FORTIER CLOSING IN ON 100 
 
Forward Gabe Fortier grabbed the primary assist on the Crunch's only goal last night. His assist marked his 25th point of the season (12g, 13a) in 58 games played.
 
The assistant captain is now one point away from 100 in his AHL career. Fortier has 43 goals and 56 assists in 231 AHL games - all with the Crunch - since turning pro full-time in 2020-21. The 24-year-old has skated in 11 career NHL games, scoring one goal.
 
REVERSE RETRO ROUND TWO 
 
The Crunch wear reverse retro jerseys tonight for the second time this season. Since debuting on March 23, 2022 this is the sixth time they've worn reverse retro jerseys, featuring the Columbus and Anaheim era 'Al' logo, but in the Crunch's current color scheme.
 
The Crunch are 5-0-0-0 wearing reverse retro jerseys all-time, with wins over Hershey, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Lehigh Valley, Rochester and Cleveland. Syracuse wore a white version of the jersey in its win over Hershey earlier this season (Dec. 8).