CRUNCH HOME FOLLOWING LONG ROAD TRIP
 
The Syracuse Crunch play their first home game of 2026 tonight against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
 
It's the first of four matches this season between the clubs. The teams split a four-game series last season.
 
BROADCAST COVERAGE
 
Streaming: Pay-to-watch video via AHLTV on FloHockey | www.syracusecrunch.com/watch
Television: CNY Central — CW6 beginning at 7 p.m.
Radio: ESPN Radio Syracuse | www.espncny.com beginning at 6:45 p.m.
 
LAST TIME OUT
 
The Crunch lost in overtime to the Toronto Marlies, 2-1, in a New Year's Day matinee at Coca-Cola Coliseum. Syracuse outshot Toronto, 35-17, in the loss, which left the Crunch winless in four straight games (0-2-1-1).
 
The Crunch led 1-0 after the first period on a late power-play goal from Dylan Duke. A Conor Geekie shot tipped off the right hip of Duke into the goal for his 13th goal of the season.
 
That lead held until the third period when Bo Groulx tied the game at 12:14 with a shot into the top left corner of the net. 
 
A brief but frenetic overtime ended when Alex Nylander scored at 1:37 to give the Marlies the 2-1 win.  
 
HOME AT LAST
 
The Crunch return home for their first home game of 2026 and just their third home contest in 35 days. Syracuse played two home games in December and won both on back-to-back nights Dec. 12-13.
 
The Crunch have played the fewest number of home games in the AHL (10). They are 7-3-0-0 at Upstate Medical University Arena, but they have been streaky. Syracuse won its first three at home then lost three straight. The Crunch carry a four-game winning streak at home since Nov. 22; it is tied for the longest active streak in the AHL.
 
SCOUTING THE PENGUINS
 
The Penguins lead the Eastern Conference with 47 points (22-8-1-2) in 33 games this season. They have a two point lead on the Providence Bruins for first place in the Atlantic Division. The Penguins have nearly identical home (11-4-1-1) and away records (11-4-0-1).
 
The Penguins have a plus-28 goal differential this season. They rank ninth in the AHL with 3.30 goals per game and fourth in goals allowed per game at 2.45. They've had a balanced offensive attack, and Tristan Broz leads the team with 10 goals and 20 points.
 
Rookie Sergei Murashov leads a strong group of goaltenders for the Penguins. He ranks second in the AHL with a 1.87 goals-against average and is third with a .931 save percentage. He has an 11-3-0 record.
 
DUKE STRIKES AGAIN
 
Second-year forward Dylan Duke scored the Crunch's lone goal two days ago in Toronto to give him 13 tallies on the season. He ranks second on the Crunch in goals (13) and fourth in points (23) in 31 games. 
 
Duke has scored goals in back-to-back games, and he has five goals in the last eight games to lead the Crunch in goals in that span.
 
NEWPOWER MAKES CRUNCH DEBUT
 
Newly acquired defenseman Wyatt Newpower made his Crunch debut on Thursday in Toronto. Newpower was acquired from the Iowa Wild last weekend. He had three assists in 23 games with the Wild prior to the trade. The 28-year-old has played in 236 career AHL games for five different teams.
 
Forward Mikey Milne also joined the Crunch in a related trade between Tampa Bay and Minnesota and could debut today. Milne was limited to 15 games for Iowa this season due to injury. The 23-year-old has played for the Wild since the 2022-23 season, skating in 172 AHL games. He was a third round pick by Minnesota in 2022.