CRUNCH FACE RIVAL ROCHESTER
 
The Syracuse Crunch host the Rochester Americans tonight at Upstate Medical University Arena.
 
It's the fifth game of the 12-game season series between the clubs, but it is the first meeting since Nov. 28. The teams have split the first four contests.
 
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 thrashed the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, 6-0, Saturday in Syracuse.
 
Jarred Tinordi (1g, 2a) led the way with a Gordie Howe hat trick while Conor Geekie also finished with three points (1g, 2a). The Crunch scored five goals in the first period, and they had a 3-0 lead less than five minutes into the game. They became one of only two teams this season (also Wilkes-Barre/Scranton) to score five goals in a period more than once. 
 
Syracuse received goals from Tristan Allard, Dylan Duke, Tinordi, Jakob Pelletier, Geekie and Nick Abruzzese. Brandon Halverson faced 17 shots to earn his third shutout of the season.
 
NO PLACE LIKE HOME
 
The Crunch's triumphant return home on Saturday was their first home game in three weeks. The win extended their home winning streak to five games, which is the longest active streak in the AHL; the streak dates back to Nov. 22.
 
The Crunch are 8-3-0-0 at Upstate Medical University Arena and have outscored their opponents by 20 goals. Jakob Pelletier has helped fuel the home success. He has skated in nine home games and earned at least one point in each game. He has scored a goal in six straight home games, and he has 16 points (9g, 7a) on home ice.
 
Conor Geekie has also been terrific at Upstate Medical University Arena. He has logged at least one point in nine of his 10 appearances in Syracuse, totaling 14 points (3g, 11a).
 
SCOUTING THE AMERICANS
 
The Amerks have earned points in eight of the last 10 games (4-2-3-1), but they have fallen to fourth place in the North Division with 36 points. They are 16-11-3-1 this season including a 10-6-1-0 mark on the road.
 
Isak Rosén ranks third on the Amerks in scoring, but he has averaged nearly a point and a half per game. He has 24 points (14g, 10a) in 17 games played and has collected a point in 16 of his 17 appearances. His only scoreless game was in Syracuse on Oct. 18.
 
Devon Levi has started the majority of Rochester's games this season. In 21 appearances he is 11-6-4 with a 2.97 goals-against average and a .901 save percentage. He is 1-1-0 in two starts versus the Crunch.
 
DUKE PUSHES STREAK TO THREE GAMES
 
Second-year forward Dylan Duke scored one of the Crunch's six goals on Saturday to give him 14 tallies on the season. He ranks second on the Crunch in goals (14) and fourth in points (25) in 32 games.
 
Duke has scored goals in three straight games for the first time in his career, and he has six goals in the last nine games to lead the Crunch in goals in that span.
 
Duke skates in his 100th pro game tonight. He has eight goals in 15 regular season games versus Rochester.
 
WOJO NAMED TO OLYMPIC ROSTER
 
Crunch forward Wojciech Stachowiak has been named to the 2026 German Winter Olympic roster. He is one of 10 current AHL players named to an Olympic roster this season. Stachowiak is in his first North American pro season and has 17 points (9g, 8a) in 32 games for the Crunch.
 
The last active Crunch player to leave mid-season to participate in the Olympic Games was goaltender Kristers Gudlevskis (Latvia) in 2014.