CRUNCH HOST THE ISLANDERS
 
The Syracuse Crunch play their lone home game of the week tonight against the Bridgeport Islanders at Upstate Medical University Arena.
 
The teams meet twice during the 2025-26 season, and this is Bridgeport's lone visit to Syracuse. The clubs split last year's two-game set with the road team prevailing in both games.
 
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 picked up a 3-2 road win over the Laval Rocket at Place Bell Wednesday night.
 
Mitchell Chaffee powered the way with a pair of goals, and Tommy Miller broke a late 2-2 tie for the Crunch.
 
The Rocket opened the scoring 4:31 into the second period, but Chaffee answered with a power-play goal at 13:12 of the frame. He tallied his second power-play goal of the night at 5:24 of the third to make it 2-1. The Rocket quickly tied the score a little over one minute later.
 
Miller's one-timer at 18:37 found the back of the net to give the Crunch a 3-2 lead. They held on for the win to improve to 7-3-0-0 on the road this season.
 
TOSS THOSE TEDDIES
 
Tonight is the 15^th annual Stanley Steemer Tired Teddy Toss. Fans are encouraged to throw new or gently used stuffed animals onto the ice after the Crunch score their first goal, or during the second intermission, whichever comes first.
 
The cuddly critters will be collected and refurbished by Stanley Steemer before being donated to local charities.
 
Last season, Conor Sheary scored the Teddy Toss goal to ignite a surge of 11,789 puffy pets onto the ice.
 
SCOUTING THE ISLANDERS
 
The Islanders snapped a three-game winless spell (0-2-0-1) with a dramatic 5-4 win last night in Rochester. They overcame a 3-0 deficit against the Amerks, and Chris Terry delivered the game-winning goal in the final minute of regulation. The team improved to 6-8-1-1 on the season, and they are tied for sixth place in the Atlantic Division.
 
Terry's goal proved to be his 49th career game-winning goal in the AHL. The 36-year-old is poised to become only the 16th skater in AHL history to play in 900 regular season contests. Through 899 games, Terry has 814 points (333g, 481a), and he needs two points to move into the top 10 in league history.  
 
Tonight marks Sean Day's return to Syracuse. The defenseman appeared in 215 games for the Crunch from 2020 to 2024, adding 92 points (16g, 76a).
 
MILLER MAKES IT HAPPEN
 
Defenseman Tommy Miller notched his first career game-winning goal Wednesday in Laval. Not known for his offense, Miller has now established a new career-high with two goals in 13 games this season; he had scored one career goal in 119 games entering the season.
 
Both of his tallies this season have broken ties; his goal on Oct. 29 at Toronto gave the Crunch a 2-1 lead in an eventual 5-4 victory. 
 
ABRUZZESE DISHING IT OUT
 
Forward Nick Abruzzese matched a career high with three assists in the Crunch's win Wednesday night. It marked only his second three-assist game (also Nov. 11, 2023, at Grand Rapids) and his seventh three-point contest.
 
The 26-year-old is tied for the team lead with 10 assists this season. He ranks third on the Crunch with 14 points in 16 games. The Slate Hill, New York native has 157 career points (51g, 106a) in 227 AHL games for the Crunch and Toronto Marlies.