CRUNCH HOME TO WRESTLE WITH BEARS
 
The Syracuse Crunch return home following a four-game road trip to host the Hershey Bears tonight at Upstate Medical University Arena.
 
It's the third game of the four-game season series between the clubs. Syracuse won a pair of games in Hershey during opening weekend.
 
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
 
JERSEY AUCTION
 
The Crunch will hold their first jersey auction of the season immediately following tonight's game. The team is wearing specialty jerseys for Military Appreciation Night.
 
Fans looking to participate in the auction should head to Sections 102 and 103 following the game.
 
LAST TIME OUT
 
The Crunch scored five goals in the second period, and Dylan Duke matched a franchise record with three power-play goals in a 6-2 win Tuesday against the Utica Comets.
 
The five-goal frame flipped a 1-0 deficit into a 5-1 lead for the Crunch on the strength of goals from Wojciech Stachowiak, Dylan Duke twice, Tristan Allard and Brendan Furry. Duke completed his first career hat trick in the third period to extend the lead to 6-1 before the Comets tallied to end the Crunch run.
 
Brandon Halverson stopped 25 of 27 shots to earn his fifth win of the season.
 
SABOURIN MAKES IT 100
 
Forward Scott Sabourin was recalled and made his Tampa Bay Lightning debut Wednesday versus the New York Rangers. He became the 100^th player to appear in a game for both the Crunch and Lightning since the affiliation began in 2012-13.
 
Sabourin scored a goal in the game, which the Lightning lost, 7-3. He is one of four players currently on recall with Tampa Bay who were in the Crunch's opening night lineup against Hershey; the other three are Dominic James, Charle-Edouard D'Astous and Boris Katchouk.
 
DUKE NOTCHES FIRST HAT TRICK
 
Forward Dylan Duke recorded his first pro hat trick in Syracuse's 6-2 win at Utica on Tuesday, with all three goals coming on the power play. Duke is the second Crunch skater in team history to score three power-play goals in one game (also Mark Hartigan on Jan. 19, 2007, against Albany). 
 
The Crunch sit atop the Eastern Conference with a 25.5% (14-for-55) success rate on the power play.
 
SCOUTING THE BEARS
 
Hershey (6-4-1-0) enters tied for fourth place in the Atlantic Division with 13 points. The Bears begin their first three-in-three weekend of the season having won five of their last six games following a 1-3-1-0 start.
 
The Bears have found success with their goaltending tandem of Clay Stevenson and Garin Bjorklund, one of nine pairs to have at least three wins apiece. Bjorklund's 2.17 goals-against average is ninth among AHL netminders, while Stevenson's 45 wins since the 2023-24 season rank eighth among all AHL goaltenders.
 
Hershey has won its last three road games, and the Bears are 3-1-0-0 away from the Giant Center this season. Hershey's road power play is tied for third in the AHL, going 4-for-13 (30.8%), while its road penalty kill also sits in third at 12-for-13 (92.3%).  
 
FIVE GOAL FRAME
 
The Crunch's five goal second period on Tuesday marked just their 18th period in team history with at least five goals scored. It was their first since April 12, 2017, against Utica. Their record for goals in a single period is six, scored on April 6, 2008, versus Rochester.