CRUNCH PLAY FINAL GAME BEFORE ALL-STAR BREAK
 
The Syracuse Crunch rematch against the Belleville Senators in the final game before the AHL All-Star Break tonight at CAA Arena.
 
The Crunch bested the Senators, 5-3, last night in Syracuse to kick off the home-and-home series. The clubs have split the first four games of their season series, but last night was the first home win for either team. 
 
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
 
Ethan Gauthier scored twice to help power the Crunch past the Belleville Senators, 5-3, last night at Upstate Medical University Arena.
 
Max Groshev opened the scoring less than two minutes into the game for his second goal in as many games. The Senators tied the game later in the first period, but Lucas Mercuri answered with a strike from the left goal line to make it 2-1 Crunch.
 
Gauthier scored the first of his two goals to make it 3-1 in the second period. The Senators scored a power-play goal early in the third to cut into the deficit, but Gauthier picked up a man-up goal for the Crunch for a 4-2 lead. The Sens clawed one back with another power-play goal, but Mitchell Chaffee sealed the win with an empty-net goal.
 
MERCURI SETS THE TONE
 
Rookie Lucas Mercuri bullied his way to a first star of the game performance last night. He slipped home a go-ahead goal late in the first period to break a 1-1 tie then logged his seventh fight of the season in a one-sided tilt versus Jan Jenik. Mercuri has been named the first star three times this season.
 
Last night was the second time this season Mercuri has both scored a goal and notched a fight in the same game (also Nov. 8 at Charlotte).
 
SCOUTING THE SENATORS
 
The Senators lost in regulation last night for only the second time in the last 12 games (7-2-3-0) since Jan. 10. They return for their first home game since Jan. 18 following a 3-2-2-0 seven-game road trip. The Senators have been better on the road (11-9-5-0) than at home (9-11-3-0) this season. 
 
Carter Yakemchuk potted his first career two-goal game in the loss last night. The rookie defenseman has six goals and 23 points this season. Arthur Kaliyev scored his league-leading 29th goal. The power-play strike was his third goal in three games this season versus Syracuse. The Senators are 6-for-10 on the power play in the season series against the Crunch.  
 
GROSH STRIKES AGAIN
 
Defenseman Max Groshev connected on the game's first goal 1:56 into the first period. It marked the Crunch's fastest goal to open a game on home ice this season, and it also gives Groshev goal in back-to-back games. 
 
It's only the second time that Groshev has scored goals in at least two straight games; he rattled off a three-game streak — scoring six goals — Nov. 11-17, 2023. Groshev has 15 points (3g, 12a) in 37 games this season.
 
GAUTHIER CONNECTS TWICE
 
Rookie forward Ethan Gauthier notched his first career two-goal game last night. The 21-year-old potted a goal in the second period for a 3-1 lead then added a power-play goal in the third. His second strike held up as his first game-winning goal.
 
Gauthier has three points (2g, 1a) over the last two games and has 12 points (6g, 6a) in 33 games this season.
 
A BUMPY ROAD
 
Since the start of the new year, the Crunch have posted a 1-4-1-0 record on the road. Their only win away from Upstate Medical University Arena was against Lehigh Valley, 4-1, on Jan. 17.
 
Syracuse has averaged just 1.12 goals per game in six road contests in 2026. The Crunch have been held to one goal or less in five of those games and shut out twice.
 
The Crunch began the season with an 8-3-0-0 mark on the road, but they only have three road wins in their last 15 road games (3-9-2-1), Syracuse has 10 road games remaining with four in a row — beginning tonight — sandwiched around the AHL All-Star Break.