CRUNCH LOOK TO CLINCH PLAYOFF BERTH
 
The Crunch go for a seventh straight victory tonight against the Laval Rocket at Upstate Medical University Arena. In the process they try to secure a seventh straight playoff berth.
 
It's the final game of the eight game season series between the clubs. Laval has won four of the first seven, but after the Rocket won the first four meetings the Crunch have taken the last three contests.
 
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 tallied twice in 23 seconds midway through the second period to defeat the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, 2-1, last night at Upstate Medical University Arena.
 
The Phantoms had a strong first period and Anthony Richard gave Lehigh Valley a 1-0 lead at 19:23 of the frame. Ryan Fanti made 12 saves in the period to keep the Crunch down only 1-0.
 
Syracuse dominated the final two periods and outshot the Phantoms, 29-8, in the last 40 minutes. The Crunch's two goals came 23 seconds apart in the second. Tristan Allard picked up a puck in the slot and ripped it into the top right corner of the goal to level the score at 8:56. Moments later Gabriel Fortier swatted home a rebound in the crease to make it 2-1.
 
The Crunch allowed only two shots in the third period to preserve their sixth straight win.
 
SCOUTING THE CRUNCH
 
The Crunch picked up their sixth straight win to make it 12 wins in the last 14 games since March 9. The Crunch have outscored their opponents 50-26 over the last 14 games to give them a plus-28 goal differential on the season.
 
Syracuse enters tonight's game with 82 points and a 35-21-8-4 record. The Crunch have a seven point cushion for the final playoff position in the North Division. Entering the day they also lead Cleveland by three points for third place. 
 
Tristan Allard fired home his sixth goal of the season last night to give him points in three straight games for the first time in his career. He has 15 points — including a new career-high six goals — in 42 games this season after logging 18 points (5g, 13a) in 63 games as a rookie last season. Connor Kurth assisted to earn his first professional point.
 
CLOSING IN ON THE PLAYOFFS
 
The Crunch look to sew up a seventh consecutive playoff berth tonight. They enter the day with a magic number of two, and they have three ways to nail down a playoff spot tonight.
 
Syracuse clinches a playoff berth today with:
(a) a win vs. Laval OR (b) a Belleville regulation loss at Providence OR (c) an OTL/SOL vs. Laval AND a Belleville OTL/SOL at Providence.
 
The Crunch are 12th overall in the AHL standings, making them the highest team in the standing without already clinching a playoff spot. Six teams behind them have locked up a trip to the playoffs.
 
STREAKING UP THE STANDINGS
 
The Crunch have rattled off six straight wins for their longest winning streak since their six-game run from April 16 to April 29, 2022. That streak was snapped by the Laval Rocket in the final game of the regular season.
 
The Crunch have outscored their opposition 19-9 during their current winning streak. Four wins have come on the road and two have been at home. Conor Sheary is the Crunch's leading scorer with nine points (1g, 8a) in the six wins. 
 
Syracuse has not won at least seven straight games since Jan. 18-Feb. 8, 2019. 
 
SCOUTING THE ROCKET
 
The Rocket are coming off a 4-2 win last night in Rochester which secured their second division title in team history. It's their first since Joel Bouchard led the club to the Canadian Division title in 2020-21. Laval is now in search of its first Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy for finishing first overall in the AHL; they lead the Hershey Bears by two points for the top spot.
 
Alex Barré-Boulet is having another point-per-game season, something he accomplished twice during his tenure in Syracuse. He leads the Rocket and is tied for sixth in the AHL with 61 points (21g, 40a) in 61 games.
 
Cayden Primeau has been sensational since returning to Laval from Montreal after Christmas. He has ripped off a 20-2-2 record with a 2.00 goals-against average and a .926 save percentage in 25 games for the Rocket. His only two regulation losses came in back-to-back appearances in mid-February. 
 
HEAD-TO-HEAD
 
The teams complete their eight-game season series tonight. The Rocket won the first four games, but the Crunch have answered with three in a row. The Rocket are 2-1-0-0 in Syracuse, but their two wins went past regulation.
 
Conor Sheary tops all scorers with eight points (1g, 7a) in only five appearances against the Rocket. Alex Barré-Boulet is the leading producer for Laval with seven points (3g, 4a) against the Crunch.
 
GEARING UP FOR GAUTHIER 
 
Forward Ethan Gauthier has joined the Crunch after his season with the Drummondville Voltigeurs ended earlier this week. He posted 62 points (25g, 37a) in 50 games during the regular season and added another 12 points (6g, 6a) in seven playoff games before being ousted by the Halifax Mooseheads.
 
Gauthier, 20, was selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning with their first pick, 37th overall, at the 2023 NHL Draft. In four QMJHL seasons Gauthier earned 241 points (109g, 132a) in 245 games. His dad, Denis, played 554 NHL games for Calgary, Phoenix, Philadelphia and Los Angeles.