CRUNCH NEED WIN TO SPLIT IN CHARLOTTE
 
The Syracuse Crunch and Charlotte Checkers rematch to close out a two-game set tonight at Bojangles Coliseum.
 
The Checkers rallied with four goals in the third period to take the first leg of the back-to-back, 4-1, last night.
 
BROADCAST COVERAGE
 
Countdown to Crunch Time at 5:45 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 Charlotte Checkers scored four third period goals, including a pair of empty-net tallies, to pull out a 4-1 win over the Crunch last night at Bojangles Coliseum.
 
The Crunch opened the scoring in the first period with a power-play goal at 10:43. Mitchell Chaffee deflected home a point shot from Declan Carlile to make it 1-0 Crunch, marking the seventh time in 11 games the Crunch have scored the first goal this season.
 
The scored remained 1-0 after two periods, but the Checkers scored twice in the first 2:40 of the third period to flip the deficit into a lead. Brian Pinho connected on the power play and Jack Devine followed up with a rebound goal to make it 2-1. The Checkers scored two empty-net goals to inflate the final score to 4-1.
 
Ryan Fanti suffered his first loss of the season (4-1-0) for the Crunch.
 
QUIET NIGHT AT THE OFFICE
 
The Crunch had their smallest offensive output of the season in last night's loss to the Checkers. It was the first time in 11 games this season they were limited to only one goal. Prior to last night's game, Syracuse had only scored fewer than three goals in one other game — a 4-2 loss in Rochester on Oct. 22.
 
The Checkers also held the Crunch to a season-low 18 shots on goal. The Crunch had only nine total shots through two period before they doubled that with nine bids in the third period.
 
CHAFFEE CHECKING IN
 
Forward Mitchell Chaffee netted the lone Crunch goal last night. The 27-year-old scored via a deflection on a power play for his first goal of the season at any level. Last night was his fourth game of the season with the Crunch, but he also appeared in seven games for the Tampa Bay Lightning.
 
Prior to this season, Chaffee last skated for the Crunch during the 2023-24 season. He scored 12 goals, including six power-play tallies, in 36 games that season prior to earning a permanent recall to Tampa Bay. He has two points (1g, 1a) in four games for the Crunch this season.
 
SCOUTING THE CHECKERS
 
The Checkers earned their first win in four tries this season when trailing after two period (3-1-0-0) to improve to 5-4-1-0 overall this season. The Checkers are tied for fourth place in the Atlantic Division with 11 points.
 
Leading scorer Jack Devine sparked the comeback win last night. His keep in and subsequent setup to Brian Pinho tied the game 19 seconds into the third period. Devine potted his own goal just over two minutes later, and then he sealed the game with an empty-net goal. It was his first two-goal game and the second three-point outing of the season. He ranks third among AHL rookies with 10 points (5g, 5a).
 
Captain Trevor Carrick became the 91^st player in league history to reach 700 AHL games played. He finished the game with three shots and a plus-1 rating. He has played for four AHL teams during his career, skating in 420 games for the Checkers, 172 for the San Diego Gulls, 60 for the Crunch and 48 for the San Jose Barracuda. He has 99 career AHL goals.  
 
THE GEEKIE CONNECTION
 
Crunch forward Conor Geekie wraps up his first weekend as an opponent in Charlotte. It was here where his brother, Morgan, began his pro career. 
 
Morgan spent two full seasons with the Checkers from 2018 to 2020. He picked up 88 points (41g, 47a) in 128 games for the Checkers. Geekie won a Calder Cup as a rookie in 2019, adding 18 points in 19 playoff games for Charlotte.
 
RIGHT BACK AT IT
 
The Crunch look to rebound from only their third loss in 11 games this season. Syracuse has not lost consecutive games yet during the campaign.
 
Syracuse is 2-0-0-0 following losses this year. The Crunch earned a 3-0 win versus Utica (Oct. 24) and a 5-3 win at Rochester earlier this week.