CRUNCH EYE ROAD SPLIT
 
The Crunch and Rochester Americans square off in Game 2 of the North Division Semifinals this afternoon in Rochester.
 
Syracuse looks for a split on the road before the series shifts to Upstate Medical University Arena for Game 3 on Thursday.
 
AMERKS PULL OUT GAME 1 WIN
 
A trio of young Swedes potted goals for the Amerks en route to a 3-2 win over the Crunch in Game 1 of the North Division Semifinals. 
 
Rochester took an immediate 1-0 lead in the first period. Anton Wahlberg, an 18-year-old who joined the Amerks from the SHL near the end of the season, deked his way to the goal and tucked home the opening tally at 1:01 of the first period. Later in the period Noah Ostlund, who joined the Amerks for the final weekend of the season out of the SHL, ripped a power-play goal for a 2-0 lead at 13:38.
 
The Crunch clawed their way back Into the game In the second period. After tilting the Ice In their favor for most of the period, Daniel Walcott poked home a rebound goal at 13:21 of the frame to make it a 2-1 game. 
 
They tied the score in the third when Jordy Bellerive blasted a shot off the rush at 7:59 for his first goal with the Crunch. Rochester went back in front just over two minutes later on an Isak Rosén deflection goal. That held as the game-winning goal after Devon Levi fended off heavy pressure by the Crunch, finishing with 35 saves for the win.
 
SCOUTING THE CRUNCH
 
The Crunch lost their playoff opener for the first time since the 2019 postseason when they dropped a series against the Cleveland Monsters. Syracuse will try to respond today to even the series; the Crunch have only lost back-to-back games twice (excluding shootouts) in 2024 (Feb. 24-25 and March 27-29).
 
Jordy Bellerive has found his footing with the Crunch. After being held without a point in his first 12 games with the Crunch, the rugged center has collected a point in two straight. He grabbed an assist in the regular season finale before potting the tying goal in Game 1 for his first career playoff goal in his 10th career AHL playoff game. 
 
Bellerive was acquired by the Crunch at the AHL trade deadline from the San Jose Barracuda. Prior to this season, he had seen playoff action with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Lehigh Valley.  
 
DUKE DELIVERS FIRST POINT
 
Rookie forward Dylan Duke logged his first pro point on the Crunch's first tally of the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs. His shot from the left circle slipped through Devon Levi and was nudged home by Daniel Walcott. The goal was originally credited to Duke, but was changed to Walcott on Saturday.
 
Duke, 21, joined the Crunch on an ATO prior to the final week of the regular season. He played in the final three games of the season for the Crunch after finishing his collegiate career at the University of Michigan. Duke made three Frozen Four appearances for the Wolverines in his three seasons at Michigan. He led Michigan with 26 goals this season, including six in seven postseason games between the Big Ten Tournament and the NCAA Tournament. 
 
SCOUTING THE AMERICANS
 
After finishing the season on a 13-2-1-1 tear to snag second place in the North Division, the Americans took a Game 1 win on the strength of goals from three Swedes. 
 
Anton Wahlberg, 18,  and Noah Ostlund, 20, both tallied in the first period for Rochester in their first games against the Crunch. Ostlund's marker was his first in North America; the 2022 first round pick arrived from Sweden prior to the final weekend of the season. Wahlberg, a second round pick in 2023, skated in nine games for the Amerks after arriving from Sweden after his SHL season wrapped up.
 
Isak Rosén capped the hat trick of Swedish scorers with the eventual game-winning goal in the third period. The 2021 first round pick scored 20 goals and had 50 points this season.
 
Rochester needs two more wins to advance to the North Division Finals for the third straight season.
 
A FAMILIAR POSITION  
 
The Crunch found themselves in a familiar position in Game 1 against Rochester – trailing 2-0. In their regular season series, the Crunch fell behind 2-0 in six of their 12 meetings. The Crunch came back to win three of those six games (3-2-0-1).
 
The troubles have come in the first period, when the Amerks outscored the Crunch, 15-7 in the regular season. Syracuse outscored Rochester, 29-11, over the second and third periods during the regular season.
 
The Crunch concluded the regular season by allowing the first goal in 12 of their final 18 games. They posted a 7-7-1-3 record in those games.
 
WALCOTT READY OFF THE HOP 
 
Veteran forward Daniel Walcott helped drag the Crunch into the fight in Game 1 with his first career multi-point game in the Calder Cup Playoffs. After originally being credited with a pair of assists, Walcott has now been awarded their first goal for a one goal, one assist performance in the Crunch's 3-2 loss.
 
Walcott has participated in five Calder Cup Playoffs with the Crunch (2017, 2018, 2022, 2023, 2024); this is the first time since 2017 he has logged at least two points in a single postseason. He has eight points (2g, 6a) in 31 career AHL playoff games.
 
KOEPKE, CARLILE, ROBERT RETURN FOR GAME 1 
 
The Crunch had three players return from injury ahead of Game 1. Declan Carlile - named the team's MVP at the end of the season - missed the final 11 games of the season after suffering an injury March 23 at Springfield. They were the first Crunch games he missed all season. Carlile returned with an assist in Game 1.
 
Leading goal scorer Cole Koepke missed the final two weekends after being injured April 6 at Belleville. Koepke paced the Crunch with 20 goals and ranked second with 39 points. He has six points (2g, 4a) in 11 career playoff games.
 
Robert missed the final three games of the season. He had 34 points in 53 games during the regular season. He has seven points (3g, 4a) in 12 career playoff games.