CRUNCH END BUSY STRETCH
The Syracuse Crunch wrap up a stretch of five games in eight days tonight against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms at the PPL Center.
It's the first of four head-to-head meetings this season. The Crunch won three of four against the Phantoms last season, including two wins in Allentown.
BROADCAST COVERAGE
Countdown to Crunch Time at 6:50 p.m.
Streaming: Pay-to-watch video via AHLTV on FloHockey | http://www.syracusecrunch.com/watch
Radio: ESPN Radio Syracuse | www.espncny.com (http://www.espncny.com/)
LAST TIME OUT
The Crunch rallied from a 2-0 deficit to earn a standings point, but they lost to the Rochester Americans, 3-2, in overtime last night at Upstate Medical University Arena.
The Amerks took a lead in the first period during a penalty filled 20 minutes. The first period featured three fights and a combined 60 penalty minutes, but Rochester got goals from Gavin McCarthy and Matthew Peca.
The Crunch began to claw back on the scoreboard in the second period when Brendan Furry broke free in transition and buried a backhand shot to make it 2-1.
Ethan Gauthier tied the game with 1:06 remaining in the third period to force overtime. Trevor Kuntar scored 1:59 into overtime to win the game for the Amerks.
FIGHT NIGHT
Both the Crunch and Amerks let off steam in the first period last night in a first period that featured three fights and 60 combined penalty minutes. The tone was set with double roughing minors 22 seconds into the game.
Jarred Tinordi, Mike Callahan and Shawn Element all dropped the gloves for fighting majors as the period progressed.
The 64 combined penalty minutes in the game mark the second-most in a Crunch game this season behind the 86 on Oct. 3 in Laval.
MERCURI MAKING HIS MARK
Forward Lucas Mercuri picked up a pair of helpers last night to move into a tie for the team lead in scoring with six points (2g, 4a). It marked his third multi-point performance of the season, already halfway to the total he had all last season.
Mercuri has had his fingerprints all over the stat sheet. With four penalty minutes last night, the second-year-pro now leads the AHL with 39 penalty minutes.
SCOUTING THE PHANTOMS
The Phantoms are a well-rested bunch heading into tonight's game. They last played one week ago when they won in overtime at Springfield. That capped a three-game road trip in which they won all three games. They are 3-0-0-0 on the road, but they have yet to win at the PPL Center (0-2-1-0).
It has been a turbulent week for the Phantoms roster. Since their win over the T-Birds last Saturday, four players have been recalled to Philadelphia. Leading the way are the Phantoms' top two scorers Alex Bump and Jacob Gaucher. Bump leads the Phantoms and is tied for second in the AHL with seven goals, including two straight game-winning goals.
Carson Bjarnason (2-0-1/3.00/.900) and Aleksei Kolosov (1-2-0/3.41/.894) form a goalie tandem for the second straight season.
WHAT A WEEK
Tonight marks the final leg of a five game in eight day stretch that has seen the team play in four different cities. It began last Saturday at home against Rochester and continued the next afternoon in Hamilton.
After a brief stop home for an off day, the Crunch visited Laval on Wednesday. They were back home last night and now finished at the PPL Center. By the time they return home after tonight's game, the team will have logged approximately 1,340 bus miles to play the five games.
BROTHERLY LOVE
Tonight could mark the first pro matchup between Crunch defenseman Dyllan Gill and his brother, Spencer, a rookie defenseman for the Phantoms.
Spencer, 20, is off to a good start for Lehigh Valley, collecting three assists in his first six games. He was selected by the Flyers 59th overall in the 2024 NHL Draft.
Dyllan, 22, is in his second pro season and has skated in two games for the Crunch, grabbing one assist. He was selected by the Lightning 223rd overall in the 2022 NHL Draft.
