CRUNCH GO FOR WEEKEND SWEEP AGAINST CHECKERS
 
The Syracuse Crunch rematch against the Charlotte Checkers tonight at Upstate Medical University Arena.
 
The Crunch shut out the Checkers, 4-0, last night in Syracuse for their seventh consecutive win. Syracuse has won seven straight games for the first time since Jan. 18-Feb. 8, 2019.
 
Charlotte leads the season series 2-1-0-0; the home team has won each of the first three games.
 
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
 
POSTGAME JERSEY AUCTION
 
The Crunch will wear specialty jerseys inspired by the 1980 Team USA jerseys. Select jerseys will be auctioned live on the ice immediately following the game.
 
LAST TIME OUT
 
Lucas Mercuri notched the first two-goal game of his career, and the Crunch shut out the Checkers, 4-0, last night at Upstate Medical University Arena.
 
Syracuse led 2-0 after the first period on goals by Gabriel Szturc at 9:44 and Mercuri at 14:22.
 
Ethan Gauthier tallied on the power play 26 seconds into the second to make it 3-0. Mercuri scored again with 2:31 left in the period to give the Crunch a 4-0 lead after 40 minutes.
 
Brandon Halverson recorded 25 saves for first-star honors and his league-leading fifth shutout of the season. It was the Crunch's second-ever shutout against Charlotte (also Hugo Alnefelt; Nov. 5, 2022).
 
MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME
 
The Crunch began a four-game homestand that carries into March. Syracuse plays 16 of its final 22 games at home. The Crunch are 15-4-1-0 at Upstate Medical University Arena and are on a 7-0-1-0 run since Jan. 10. They have nearly matched their home win total from last season, when they finished 16-12-4-4 on home ice. 
 
Nineteen of their final 22 games will take place in New York State. Two of their final six road games are in Rochester and one is at Utica.
 
SCOUTING THE CHECKERS
 
Charlotte was shut out for the fourth time this season last night and for the second time in February.
 
Tonight is game three of a season-high 10-game road trip for the Checkers. The trip takes them through six cities over 20 days. So far, they are 1-1-0-0 after last night's 4-0 loss to the Crunch and Wednesday's 3-2 shootout win in Rochester.
 
Charlotte's penalty kill has been terrific this year, clicking at an Eastern Conference best 85.6%. However, the Crunch did score on the man advantage last night — the first powerplay goal the Checkers have allowed in four games.  
 
MERCS MAKES IT HAPPEN
 
Lucas Mercuri scored twice in last night's 4-0 win — the first two-goal game of his professional career. Mercuri redirected a Jakob Pelletier wrist shot to give the Crunch a 2-0 lead at 14:22 of the first period. He found the back of the net again late in the second on a one-timer from the right circle.
 
The 23-year-old from Montreal leads all Crunch rookies with 18 points (10g, 8a) in 46 games played.
 
POWER PLAY KEEPS CLICKING
 
With a 1-for-4 showing on the man advantage last night, the Crunch have recorded a power-play goal in seven of their last eight games. They are converting at 29.0% (9-for-31) over that span.
 
Syracuse has the second-best power play in the Eastern Conference (22.6%). The Crunch have also been on the man-up an AHL-high 186 times this season.
 
Dylan Duke currently leads the league with 15 power-play goals.