CRUNCH READY FOR HOME OPENER
 
The Syracuse Crunch contest their 32^nd home opener in franchise history tonight against the Rochester Americans at Upstate Medical University Arena.
 
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 capped a two-game weekend sweep of the Hershey Bears with a 3-2 overtime win Sunday at the Giant Center.
 
Syracuse rallied from a 2-0 deficit for the second straight game. Scott Sabourin nabbed the first Crunch goal to make it 2-1 at 14:52 of the second period. Declan Carlile tied the game with 3:14 remaining in the third period. 
 
Dominic James capped the comeback with his first career overtime game-winning goal at 1:17 of the extra session.
 
HOME OPENER HISTORY
 
Tonight marks the 32^nd home opener in Crunch history. The Crunch are 16-9-1-1 all-time in home openers, posting four ties along the way. They have won three straight home openers since 2022.
 
Since affiliating with the Tampa Bay Lightning for the 2012-13 season, the Crunch own an 8-4-1-0 record in home openers at Upstate Medical University Arena.
 
Rochester has served as the Crunch's opponent five times; the Crunch are 4-0-1-0 in those games.
 
KATCHOUK BACK IN SYRACUSE
 
Boris Katchouk is slated to hit the ice for his first home game for the Crunch since a conditioning assignment brought him back to Syracuse on March 13, 2022.
 
Katchouk, 27, played in 167 games for the Crunch at the start of his career, beginning in 2018-19. After earning an assist last week, the Waterloo, Ontario native has 92 points in 169 Crunch games. 
 
He was selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the second round, 44th overall, in the 2016 NHL Draft.
 
SANTINI, SABOURIN RECALLED TO LIGHTNING
 
Crunch captain Steven Santini and assistant captain Scott Sabourin were recalled to the Tampa Bay Lightning prior to their game yesterday in Detroit.
 
Santini was named the 22nd captain in Crunch history prior to the season. He's in his second season with the Crunch after dressing in 58 games in 2024-25.
 
Sabourin signed with the Lightning organization over the summer. The veteran picked up a goal and an assist last weekend. He has now served one game of his four-game suspension at the NHL level stemming from a preseason contest against the Florida Panthers.
 
SCOUTING THE AMERICANS
 
The Amerks grabbed their second win of the season last night by thumping Utica, 7-4. After falling into an early 2-0 hole, Rochester scored seven straight goals — including five in the first period — to move to 2-1-0-0 on the season. 
 
Isak Rosén finished the game with three points (1g, 2a) to move into a tie for first in the AHL with six points (3g, 3a). Now in his fourth season with the Amerks, Rosen has 148 points (65g, 83a) in 197 regular season games. In 46 career regular and playoff games against the Crunch, Rosén has 30 points (13g, 17a). 
 
The Rochester power play has been hot to start the year. The Amerks have converted on five of their 10 chances. 
 
HEAD-TO-HEAD
 
The Crunch and Amerks will square off 12 times in the regular season. Rochester won seven of the 12 contests in the regular season last year before defeating the Crunch in the North Division Semifinals.
 
The teams have met in the Calder Cup Playoffs in three straight seasons.