CRUNCH READY FOR ROCKET 

The Crunch aim for consecutive wins tonight in a matchup with the Laval Rocket at Upstate Medical University Arena.
 
It's the seventh game of the eight-game season series between the clubs. The Rocket won the first four before the Crunch snagged back-to-back wins following the Christmas break.
 
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

Matt Tomkins stopped all 38 shots and Max Crozier scored twice as the Crunch shut out the Toronto Marlies, 5-0, last night at Upstate Medical University Arena. 
 
The Crunch have posted seven shutouts this season, including three from Tomkins. He has two clean sheets in his last four appearances.
 
Crozier notched his first career two-goal game. He started the scoring with what turned into the game-winning goal just one minute into the contest. After Dylan Duke swatted home a puck from the right circle to make it 2-0, Crozier redirected home a power-play goal for a 3-0 lead in the first frame.
 
Joel Teasdale scored in the second period for a 4-0 lead. It was his first game back in the lineup following a nine-game absence due to injury. Max Groshev capped the scoring with a one-timer in the third period.
 
SCOUTING THE CRUNCH

Syracuse enters Saturday's contest with a 21-17-7-4 record and a fifth place standing in the North Division with 53 points. The Crunch are four points ahead of the Belleville Senators, and seven points behind the Cleveland Monsters.
 
With last night's 5-0 shutout over the Marlies, Syracuse is once again eyeing its first win streak since the New Year. The Crunch emerged victorious in four straight games between Dec. 27 and Jan. 3, but they haven't won two consecutive contests since.
 
The shutout win was also the Crunch's seventh this season, which is the most they've had in a single season since 2018-19 (12). They are tied for the third-most in the AHL this season behind Charlotte (8) and Providence (8). 
 
STARTING STRONG

The Crunch had one of their best first periods of the season last night when they raced out to a 3-0 lead against the Marlies. Syracuse has scored 27 goals in the first 20 minutes of games, which is the fewest in the AHL.
 
Recently the Crunch have scored eight first period goals in the last seven games after netting just 19 through their first 42 games.
 
CROZIER STRIKES TWICE 

Crunch defenseman Max Crozier (5g, 11a) posted his first career multi-goal game last night. The second-year pro has surpassed last year's four goals, doing so in 30 games this season versus 49 games last year. One of Crozier's tallies is against Laval (Dec. 28).
 
Crozier is the second among Crunch defensemen in points behind Derrick Pouliot's team-high 40 points. Crozier is tied for the team lead with three game-winning goals, including one last night and one against the Rocket. The 2019 fourth-round draft pick has recorded six points (2g, 4a) in his last five games.
 
ONE AT A TIME

The Crunch hope to build off their 5-0 victory last night. The team has won at least two straight games only four times all season. They have not won consecutive games since a four-game winning streak Dec. 27-Jan. 3.
 
Syracuse holds a 6-10-2-2 record in games following wins this season. The Crunch are 0-3-2-1 in the last six games after a win.
 
SCOUTING THE ROCKET

Laval (32-14-2-1) arrives in second place in the North Division, trailing one point behind Rochester. The Rocket have lost two of their last three games, but they won, 5-1, at home last night over the Manitoba Moose. Tonight marks the end of a frantic stretch of five games in seven days since Sunday's win in Rochester.
 
The road has been a common setting for the Rocket recently. Before splitting a pair of home games against Manitoba, Laval went 3-2-0-0 on a five-game road swing. The Rocket have 16 wins both at home (16-6-1-1) and on the road (16-8-1-0).
 
Alex Barré-Boulet headlines Laval's offense with 39 points (12g, 27a) in 42 games. Laval's leading-point getter spent his first six pro seasons in Syracuse before signing with Montreal this summer. He remains a point-per-game player in the AHL with 341 career points (125g, 216a) in 336 games.
 
SPECIALTY JERSEY AUCTION

In recognition of the 45th anniversary of the Miracle on Ice, the Crunch are Team USA inspired jerseys. They replicate the blue jerseys worn by Team USA at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid. The jerseys are blue and feature white stars on both shoulders with red and white stripes around the neck, elbows and bottom of the sweater. Instead of "USA," the jersey has "SYR" in red with a white outline across the chest. 
 
Select game-worn jerseys will be auctioned off on the ice immediately following the game. Those looking to participate in the auction should head to Sections 102 and 103 following the game.
 
HEAD-TO-HEAD

The Crunch earned a pair of regulation wins in Laval after Christmas in the most recent meetings of this season series. The Rocket, however, hold a 4-2-0-0 mark against the Crunch (2-2-1-1); both meetings in Syracuse required overtime.
 
Derrick Pouliot (2g, 3a) and Conor Sheary (5a) pace the Crunch with five points in the series.