CRUNCH EYE RETURN TO WIN COLUMN

The Crunch try to snap a three-game losing streak as they host the Rochester Americans tonight at Upstate Medical University Arena.
 
It's the fifth game of the 12-game season series between the clubs. The Americans have won three of the first four, including a shootout win in the only previous match in Syracuse (Nov. 30).
 
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

The Crunch's late comeback effort came up just short in a 3-2 loss to the Toronto Marlies last night at Upstate Medical University Arena.
 
Toronto struck first for a 1-0 lead late in the first period. Nikita Grebenkin received a pass from Fraser Minten off the right wall, stepped into the high slot and zipped home a goal at 17:46 of the first frame.
 
The Crunch pressed for an equalizer in the second period and early in the third, but couldn't find the back of the net. The Marlies then cashed in twice in 23 seconds midway through the third to open a 3-0 lead. Alex Steeves swatted home his 18th goal of the season off a backdoor pass at 12:12 and Grebenkin added his second of the game off the ensuing faceoff for the three-goal lead.
 
The Crunch tallied twice late with their goaltender pulled. Jujhar Khaira got credit for the first one at 17:51 when Max Crozier banked one in off his backside. Gabe Fortier cut the deficit to one with less than a minute to play. They came close to the tying goal, but fell in regulation, 3-2.
 
SCOUTING THE CRUNCH

The Crunch lost their third straight game — and their second straight in regulation — last night against Toronto. That comes on the heels of a four-game winning streak and five-game point streak (4-0-1-0). It's the third time this season they have gone winless in at least three straight games, but it's only the second time they've lost consecutive games in regulation (also Oct. 18-19).
 
Syracuse is 15-11-5-3 this season and sits in fifth place in the North Division with 38 points. Tonight is the middle game of a three-game homestand, which concludes Wednesday versus Providence.
 
Defenseman Derrick Pouliot skated in his 600th career professional game last night and he picked up an assist for the fourth straight contest. The 30-year-old has skated in 226 NHL games and 374 AHL games during his 11-year career. Pouliot leads Crunch skaters and ranks second among AHL defensemen with 26 points (5g, 21a) in 34 games this season. 
 
KHAIRA MAKES CRUNCH DEBUT

Veteran forward Jujhar Khaira made his season and Crunch debut in last night's game against Toronto. The 30-year-old has been battling injury since the start of the season, but tallied his first goal of the season in the Crunch's loss to the Marlies.
 
A veteran of 337 career NHL games, Khaira saw significant minutes on the power play and penalty kill, then scored when the Crunch had their goaltender pulled late in the third period. 
 
A 2012 third round pick by the Edmonton Oilers, Khaira played in the NHL for the Oilers, Chicago Blackhawks and Minnesota Wild. He was limited to 23 total games in 2023-24 with Minnesota and AHL-Iowa due to injury. He collected 18 points (5g, 13a) in his 22 AHL contests for the Wild.
 
SCOUTING THE AMERICANS

The Amerks have the longest active winning streak in the AHL with seven straight victories since Dec. 20. They have won 11 of their last 12 since Dec. 7 with their lone loss coming Dec. 18 versus the Crunch.
 
Rochester has surged to the top spot in the North Division with a 22-9-3-0 record and the team's 47 points are tied for the most in the AHL. The Amerks hit the road tonight and carry an eight-game road win streak into Syracuse. They lead the league with 15 road wins (15-3-1-0).
 
Isak Rosen heads a potent Rochester attack, which ranks fourth in goals per game (3.50) with 28 points (14g, 14a) in 31 games. Brett Murray paces the Amerks with 16 goals this season. He has scored 21 goals in 55 regular season matches against Syracuse since 2019-20.
 
Rochester is tied for fifth in goals against per game (2.62) led by AHL All-Star Devon Levi. He is 12-2-1 with a 2.12 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage. He and Crunch goaltender Brandon Halverson are the two All-Stars for the North Division.
 
DOWN TO THE WIRE

Last night the Crunch suffered their first regulation home loss since Nov. 22, snapping an eight-game home point streak (3-0-3-2). Despite it ending in regulation, the Crunch gave their home fans another close contest. Twelve of the Crunch's 16 home games this season have been decided by a single goal. That includes the last seven home dates starting with a shootout loss to the Rochester Americans on Nov. 30.  
 
The Crunch have posted a 4-2-3-3 record in their one-goal games at home this season. Syracuse is 5-5-5-3 overall this season in games decided by one goal.
 
HEAD-TO-HEAD

The Crunch and Amerks face off for the fifth time this season. Rochester has posted a 3-1-0-0 mark against the Crunch (1-2-0-1), including a win in the only previous meeting in Syracuse.
 
Isak Rosen leads all scorers with four goals and has five points in the series. That is matched by the Crunch's Jesse Ylonen (1g, 4a). Dylan Duke is the only Crunch player with more than one goal.
 
Devon Levi (3-1-0/1.72/.918) has started all four games while Matt Tomkins (0-0-1/1.85/.957) and Brandon Halverson (1-2-0/2.36/.904) have split duties.
 
The Amerks are 3-for-21 (14.3%) on the power play while the Crunch are 0-for-18 in the series.