CRUNCH WRAP OPENING WEEKEND IN LAVAL

The Syracuse Crunch go for a weekend sweep of the Laval Rocket this afternoon at Place Bell.
 
Syracuse improved to 5-0-0-1 in its last six season openers with a 2-0 shutout over the Rocket last night. The Crunch look to start the season with a 2-0 record for the fourth straight campaign.
 
BROADCAST COVERAGE

Countdown to Crunch Time at 2:45 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

Nick Abruzzese scored twice and Mads Sogaard stopped 27 shots for a shutout in his Crunch debut as Syracuse bested Laval 2-0.
 
Abruzzese provided the lone tally of the first period to give the Crunch a 1-0 lead. He knocked the puck off a Laval stick and Sam O'Reilly grabbed it before dishing back to Abruzzese for the finish at 14:13.
 
The Crunch finally extended that lead with a 5-on-3 power-play goal. Abruzzese took a pass from Dylan Duke and deposited it for his fourth career two-goal game.
 
Sogaard was at his best in the third, when he turned aside 19 shots. He finished with 27 saves to earn his fourth career AHL shutout.
 
A CLEAN SHEET TO START 

Mads Sogaard's 27-save shutout was the Crunch's second season-opening shutout in the last three seasons. The Crunch most recently blanked the Utica Comets, 5-0, to begin the 2024-25 season. 
 
Syracuse now has three shutouts to begin a season in franchise history. The first instance was back in 2004-05.
 
The Crunch ranked second in the AHL last season with nine shutouts. 
 
Last night marked Mads Sogaard's fourth career AHL shutout and his first in 25 appearances lifetime against Laval.
 
ABRUZZESE DOUBLES UP

Forward Nick Abruzzese started his season with a bang last night, scoring both Crunch goals in the win. It marked his fourth career two-goal game and his second with the Crunch. Prior to last night, his most recent two-goal effort came on March 20, 2026, at Rochester. Three of his four multi-goal games have come against the Rocket.
 
Yesterday also became the third straight season opener in which a Crunch player scored multiple goals. Jakob Pelletier scored twice in their opener at Hershey, and Dyllan Gill pulled of the trick at Utica in 2024.
 
SCOUTING THE ROCKET

The Rocket fell flat in the season opener last night and were on the receiving end of a shutout in an opening game for the first time in team history. Last season, the Rocket opened with a 4-1 loss at Manitoba, but they rebounded with a win in game two. Laval hasn't started with an 0-2 record since the 2023-24 season.
 
Laval has gone scoreless in two consecutive home games against the Crunch. The Rocket were held without a goal by Brandon Halverson at Place Bell on March 4. 
 
DUKE REACHES CENTURY MARK

Dylan Duke netted an assist on Nick Abruzzese's insurance goal in the third period for his 100th career AHL point. Now in his third pro season, Duke has collected 100 points (52g, 48a) in 138 AHL games.
 
The Strongsville, Ohio native is coming off a season in which he paced the Crunch with 32 goals, including a league-leading 18 power-play tallies.
 
FIRST ONE UNDER HIS BELT

Rookie forward Sam O'Reilly made his pro debut for the Crunch last night and earned his first career point. The 20-year-old made a slick pass to Nick Abruzzese for the game's opening strike in the first period.
 
O'Reilly enters the pro ranks after a decorated junior career in the OHL that saw him win three OHL championships, two Memorial Cups, a regular season MVP, playoff MVP and Memorial Cup MVP.
He skated in all four preseason games with the Tampa Bay Lightning before joining the Crunch.