CRUNCH LOOK TO FREEZE OUT ROCKET
 
The Syracuse Crunch battle the Laval Rocket tonight at Upstate Medical University Arena.
 
The teams have split the first four games of their eight-game series. Syracuse trails Laval by three points for first place in the North Division.
 
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 had their four-game winning streak snapped with a 5-1 loss to the Utica Comets Sunday afternoon.
 
After the Crunch defeated the Comets on Saturday, it was Utica that pounced on the Crunch for a 3-0 lead on Sunday. A shorthanded goal early in the second period made it 4-0 Comets.
 
The Crunch's lone goal came later in the second frame when Dylan Duke tipped an Ethan Samson shot for his 20th goal of the season.
 
Brandon Halverson made 17 saves on 18 shots in relief of Ryan Fanti, who allowed four goals.
 
DUKE REACHES 20 GOALS
 
Forward Dylan Duke scored goals in both Crunch games last week. His tally on Saturday turned into the game-winning goal — his fourth of the season which is tied for the team lead. He also added his second fight of the season. 
 
He scored the lone Crunch goal in Sunday's loss to the Comets. Duke moved into sole possession of the team lead with 20 goals on the season, which matches the total from his rookie campaign. The second-year-pro is tied for fifth overall in the AHL. He has 12 goals in the last 18 games since Dec. 12, and he hasn't scored more than one goal in any of those games.
 
SCOUTING THE ROCKET
 
The Rocket lead the North Division and rank seventh in the AHL with 52 points (24-14-2-2). They have a three point lead atop the division. 
 
Rocket forward Laurent Dauphin is tied for the AHL lead with 46 points (12g, 34a). He has five helpers in four meetings versus the Crunch, which ties him for the team lead in scoring in the series. 
 
The Rocket are one of the most penalized teams in the league. They average 15.12 penalty minutes per game, and they have been shorthanded a league-high 174 times. Their penalty kill is 24th in the AHL at 78.7%.
 
Jacob Folwer has been on recall with Montreal for the past three meetings between the clubs. He is 12-7-0 and leads the Rocket in goals-against average (2.35) and save percentage (.912).
 
SAMSON STRINGING TOGETHER POINTS
 
Defenseman Ethan Samson has points in four consecutive games, which is tied for the longest scoring streak of his career. He has logged an assist in all four games, and he has played to a plus-3 rating in that span. 
 
The 22-year-old was acquired in a trade from Philadelphia in December. He has six points (1g, 5a) in 15 Crunch games; his only goal was scored against Laval on Dec. 28. 
 
LUNDMARK RETURNS AFTER NHL DEBUT
 
Defenseman Simon Lundmark is the most recent Crunch player to make his NHL debut for the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Swede debuted for the Bolts on Jan. 24 at Columbus. He finished with a plus-1 rating with 16:45 time on ice.
 
Lundmark is the 14th player this season to skate in a game for both the Crunch and the Lightning, and he's the seventh new player to dress for both clubs during the affiliation. There have been 104 players since 2012-13 to play for both teams.
 
Lundmark has five assists in 27 Crunch games this season. He has not played for the Crunch since Jan. 3; he was loaned back to the Crunch on Monday.