CRUNCH LOOK FOR SWEEP OF ISLANDERS 
 
The Syracuse Crunch continue their three-game homestand tonight against the Bridgeport Islanders at Upstate Medical University Arena.
 
The Crunch lost the opening leg of their homestand on Monday afternoon against the Utica Comets. The Islanders also lost to the Comets, 7-1, in Utica on Wednesday.
Tonight is the second and final game of the two-game series between the clubs. The Crunch defeated the Islanders, 4-1, last Friday in Bridgeport.
 
BROADCAST COVERAGE
 
Streaming: Pay-to-watch video via AHLTV on FloHockey | www.syracusecrunch.com/watch
Television: CNY Central — CW6 beginning at 7 p.m.
Radio: ESPN Radio Syracuse | www.espncny.com beginning at 6:45 p.m.
 
LAST TIME OUT
 
The Crunch were held in check by the Utica Comets in a 2-1 setback on their Martin Luther King Jr. matinee at Upstate Medical University Arena. It snapped the Crunch's eight-game winning streak on the holiday dating to 2016-17.
 
The Comets jumped out to a 1-0 lead 4:01 into the first period. Nathan Legare rushed up ice and fired a shot that was stopped by Matt Tomkins. He made another save on the rebound before Xavier Parent scored on the third chance. 
 
Syracuse tied the score 54 seconds into the middle period. Jujhar Khaira fed Logan Brown who swiped home a one-timer from the right circle for his fifth goal of the season. The Crunch controlled play for most of the period, but Parent scored his second of the game at 19:40 during a 4-on-4 sequence to give Utica the lead.
 
The Crunch outshot the Comets, 27-18, and fell to 6-7-1-1 this season when outshooting their opponent.
 
SCOUTING THE CRUNCH
 
After playing nearly half a season with only one instance of back-to-back regulation losses, the Crunch have dropped back-to-back games in regulation twice in less than two weeks. The Crunch have scored only one goal over the last two games. Syracuse is 2-4-1-1 in the last eight games after winning four straight to begin 2025.
 
The Crunch remain in fifth place in the North Division with 43 points (17-13-5-4). They are 3-2-3-2 in 10 matches against Atlantic Division opponents.
 
HUUHTANEN HOPES TO RETURN
 
Crunch winger Niko Huuhtanen is expected to return to the lineup tonight. The Helsinki, Finland native has been absent from Syracuse's lineup since Dec. 27, missing 11 games due to injury.
 
Despite the absence, Huuhtanen still ranks fifth on the team in points (18) and tied for third in goals (8).
 
WHAT A WEEK
 
Monday marked the end of a busy stretch for Crunch forward Jack Finley. The third-year-pro skated in five games in seven days, beginning with his NHL debut on Jan. 14 at Boston. He then hopped on a flight and returned to Syracuse on Wednesday to face off against the Providence Bruins that night.
 
Finley and the Crunch went east for a pair of games in Bridgeport and Providence, starting Friday against the Islanders. The stretch finally ended with Monday's afternoon clash against the Utica Comets.
 
POULIOT NAMED AHL ALL-STAR
 
Defenseman Derrick Pouliot was named an AHL All-Star today. He will join goaltender Brandon Halverson in representing the Crunch at the 2025 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Spotlight 29 Casino hosted by the Coachella Valley Firebirds on Feb. 2-3.
 
Pouliot leads the Crunch and is tied for the AHL lead among defensemen with 31 points (5g, 26a) while playing in 38 of the Crunch's 39 games. His 26 assists rank second overall in the AHL. He is eight points clear of his closest teammate (Conor Sheary).
 
Pouliot skated in his 600th pro game on Jan. 10. In 378 AHL games, the Estevan, Saskatchewan native has 244 career points (50g, 194a) with Syracuse, Texas, San Jose, Henderson, Lehigh Valley, San Antonio and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
 
It's the fourth time he's been named an AHL All-Star (2015, 2016, 2020), and it will be his third appearance.
 
SCOUTING THE ISLANDERS
 
After failing to qualify for the Calder Cup Playoffs last year, the Islanders have struggled through the first half of this season. Bridgeport is last in the AHL with 22 points and has a league-low nine wins (9-23-2-2) this season. The Islanders have lost four of their last five games, with the lone win on Monday at Springfield.
 
They have been more competitive on the road (7-10-2-0) than at home (2-16-0-2) this season. Overall, they rank last in the AHL by allowing a league-high 4.03 goals per game. They have allowed the most second period goals (62) and third period goals (55) among all teams.
 
Despite their lack of wins, the Islanders do have some dangerous offensive weapons, led by veteran Chris Terry. He has 29 points (7g, 22a) in 34 games this season. The 35-year-old ranks 18th all-time in AHL history with 770 points and his 318 goals rank 15th all-time.
 
The Islanders have allowed a league-high 3.91 goals per game this season.
 
HEAD-TO-HEAD
 
The Crunch and Islanders wrap up their two-game set tonight. The Crunch earned a 4-1 win in Bridgeport one week ago behind a three-point game from Gage Goncalves. He scored twice and added an assist in the second period as the Crunch raced out to a 3-0 lead. Gabe Fortier added an empty-net goal for the Crunch.
 
Cam Thiesing scored his first professional goal — the only tally for the Islanders.
 
Matt Tomkins earned the win with 29 saves and Jakub Skarek took the loss, making 32 saves on 35 shots.
 
The Crunch have won three straight against the Islanders dating back to last season.