CRUNCH EYE RETURN TO WIN COLUMN
 
The Syracuse Crunch look to snap a three-game losing streak when they face off against the Rochester Americans tonight at Upstate Medical University Arena.
 
It's the second of 12 meetings between the clubs. The Amerks topped the Crunch, 7-1, last Friday in Rochester.
 
BROADCAST COVERAGE
 
Countdown to Crunch Time at 4:45 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 surrendered three third period goals in a 3-2 loss to the Belleville Senators last Saturday. 
 
Noah Steen opened the scoring for the Crunch at 8:04 of the first period. He tapped home a loose puck in the crease for his first tally of the season, staking the Crunch to a 1-0 lead for the third time in four games this season.
 
That held until the third period when the Senators scored twice in the first six and a half minutes of the third period. Nick Abruzzese tied the game again in the third period with his third goal of the season.
 
The Senators broke the 2-2 tie in the final 30 seconds of regulation. 
 
STEEN NETS HIS FIRST 
 
Forward Noah Steen picked up his first goal of the season in Saturday's loss to the Belleville Senators. Steen opened the scoring by stuffing home a rebound in the first period. It marked the Oslo, Norway native's second career AHL goal in eight career games. The 22-year-old skated in five Crunch games at the end of last season.
 
Steen was selected in the seventh round, 199th overall, in the 2024 NHL Draft. He played the last two seasons in the Swedish Hockey League. He also represented Norway at the 2026 IIHF World Championships, scoring the bronze medal winning goal in overtime versus Canada.
 
PIETRONIRO SET TO RETURN
 
Defenseman Matteo Pietroniro is likely to make his season debut tonight for the Crunch. Now in his second season in the organization, the Boise, Idaho native suffered an injury in the final preseason game with the Tampa Bay Lightning. 
 
Last season, Pietroniro set career highs in goals (8), assists (23), points (31), plus/minus (plus-26), penalty minutes (86) and games played (65) for the Crunch. He had the best plus/minus on the team, and he was also named the Crunch's Discount Shoe Repair "Sole" of the Crunch as part of the team's year-end awards.
 
Pietroniro signed a two-year AHL contract extension with the Crunch on May 14.
 
SCOUTING THE AMERICANS
 
Rochester is 3-1-0-1 this season after winning, 4-1, last night in Hamilton. The Amerks rank third in the North Division with seven points. They beat the Crunch, 7-1, in their first matchup on Oct. 9. Jason Polin leads Rochester with six points. The 27-year-old tallied two goals and one assist against the Crunch.
 
Goaltender Matthew Villalta has started all five games for the Americans and posts a .947 save percentage, seventh best in the AHL. He stopped 23 of 24 shots in his first start against the Crunch last week. Behind Villalta, the Amerks have allowed just eight goals in five games and rank second in the AHL with a 1.60 goals allowed per game average.
 
Former Crunch forward Matthew Peca returns to Syracuse. The forward is on a point-per-game pace this season and ranks third in scoring for the Amerks. The 33-year-old finished last season with the Crunch after being acquired in a trade at the AHL Trade Deadline. He previously spent three full seasons with the Crunch from 2015 to 2018.