CRUNCH TAKE ON THUNDERBIRDS

The Syracuse Crunch begin the final week before the AHL All-Star Break with a home contest against the Springfield Thunderbirds.
 
It's the first game of the two-game season series. The Crunch have played all of their other opponents at least once already this season. The Crunch won both meetings last year, and the teams combined for 24 total goals in the two games. 
 
BROADCAST COVERAGE

Countdown to Crunch Time at 6:45 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 were defeated by the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, 4-1, Saturday at Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza. Syracuse is now 0-2-1-0 in its last three games.
 
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton led 3-0 after 40 minutes. The Penguins scored twice in an 88-second span (at 7:09 and 8:37) in the first period and again with 1:13 remaining in the second.
 
Conor Geekie tallied the Crunch's lone goal on a power play 3:46 into the third. However, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton responded with a Gabe Klassen shorthanded goal less than two minutes later, and the Crunch never scored again.
 
Ryan Fanti allowed four goals on 18 shots for Syracuse. The Crunch outshot the Penguins 14-7 in the third period and 28-17 overall. Syracuse is now 1-1-0-0 against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this year. 
 
JANUARY IN REVIEW

The Crunch posted a 6-5-2-0 record in January. Syracuse was 5-1-1-0 at Upstate Medical University Arena and 1-4-1-0 on the road.
 
Conor Geekie led the Crunch with 12 points (4g, 8a) in January. Dylan Duke scored a team-high eight goals.
 
The Crunch closed out January on a three-game losing streak after Saturday night's 4-1 loss at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Prior to that, Syracuse had won four straight games.
 
SCOUTING THE THUNDERBIRDS

Springfield enters tonight's game in seventh place in the Atlantic Division with a 16-21-4-2 record. It's game two of a season-high stretch of six straight road games. They were shut out, 4-0, by Bridgeport on Sunday.
 
Springfield has struggled to score this season, managing just 110 goals in 43 games played — the worst mark in the Atlantic Division and the second fewest in the Eastern Conference. Forward Matt Luff leads the Thunderbirds in points (33) and assists (20). He and Chris Wagner are tied for the team lead in goals with 13 apiece. Luff will be the Thunderbirds lone representative at the AHL All-Star Classic next week. 
 
Vadim Zherenko has been Springfield's best goaltender. He's 10-10-3 this season with a 3.08 goals-against average and .904 save percentage.
 
INTERDIVISIONAL BATTLE

The Crunch face off against an Atlantic Division foe for the second straight game. After Sunday's loss to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins the Crunch are 9-5-0-0 against Atlantic Division teams this season. Their nine wins are the most among North Division clubs against Atlantic Division opponents.
 
The Thunderbirds have only played six games against North Division squads, but they are 4-2-0-0 in those games.
 
STRUGGLING TO SCORE

The Crunch have been held to one goal in three straight games, which is tied for their lowest three-game scoring output this season (also Jan. 9-14). 
 
Syracuse averages 3.14 goals per game which ranks 15th in the AHL. The Crunch are more potent at home where they have scored 62 goals in 17 games for a 3.65 goals per game average.