CRUNCH FACE AMERKS TO BEGIN THREE-GAME WEEKEND
 
The Syracuse Crunch begin their first three-in-three weekend of the season tonight against the Rochester Americans on the road at Blue Cross Arena.
 
Syracuse has won the last two games in the season series to give both teams four wins in eight matches. Four of the Crunch's final 13 games are against the Amerks.
 
The Crunch are looking to snap a three-game winless streak (0-2-0-1). They've gone winless in four straight games only once this season (Dec. 20-Jan. 1).
 
BROADCAST COVERAGE
 
Countdown to Crunch Time at 6:50 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 fell to the Laval Rocket in a shootout, 4-3, last Saturday at Upstate Medical University Arena.
 
Ethan Gauthier opened the scoring with his ninth tally of the year five minutes into the game. The Rocket equalized ten minutes later, but Jakob Pelletier struck on a 5-on-3 power play with 3:13 remaining in the first period to give the Crunch a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes.
 
After a scoreless second, Laval came out scorching hot in the third. The Rocket tied the game 5:31 into the final frame and took a 3-2 lead four minutes later. However, the Crunch leveled it at three on Spencer Kersten's first goal of the season with less than 2:30 left in regulation.
 
The Rocket won the shootout, 2-0, to earn the extra standings point.
 
KNOCKING ON THE POSTSEASON'S DOOR
 
Syracuse can become the second North Division squad to secure a berth in the Calder Cup Playoffs. To clinch a position today, the Crunch need a win at Rochester AND a Belleville loss (reg/OT/SO) vs. W-B/Scranton AND a Utica regulation loss vs. Providence.
 
THREE-IN-THREE
 
Tonight begins the first three-in-three weekend of the season for the Crunch. They visit Rochester tonight before hosting Cleveland tomorrow night and Sunday afternoon. The Crunch have their second and final three-in-three weekend next week, which will end with a trip to Rochester on March 29.
 
Syracuse had three such weekends last season, and the Crunch were a combined 4-4-1-0 in the nine games played during those stretches.
 
SCOUTING THE AMERICANS
 
Rochester limps into tonight's contest, posting a 1-6-1-2 record in its last 10 games. The Amerks hold the final playoff spot in the North Division by three points with 15 games remaining — the most in the Eastern Conference. They were shut out, 3-0, last Saturday in Toronto.
 
Rochester still boasts the top power play in the conference (22.6%), but it has gone scoreless on its last 12 man-advantage opportunities. The unit hasn't converted in three games.
 
Defenseman Zac Jones leads the Amerks with 50 points and his 42 assists rank first among all AHL blueliners. Up front, Riley Fiddler-Schultz paces the club with 18 goals. He's the only Rochester player to skate in all 57 games this season.
 
Devon Levi (17-16-8/2.76/.906) has played more minutes (2,412) than any goaltender in the league, but he's 0-6-2 in his last eight starts, playing to a 3.76 goals-against average and a .883 save percentage in that span. Levi is 3-2-1 in six outings against the Crunch this season.
 
LUNDMARK POISED FOR 300TH GAME
 
Defenseman Simon Lundmark is set to play in his 300th North American pro game. The Swede has appeared in 298 AHL games and one NHL game over five North American seasons. The 25-year-old has nine points — all assists — in 44 Crunch games this season. He also made his NHL debut for the Tampa Bay Lightning on Jan. 24.
 
Lundmark has also played in 118 SHL games over four seasons from 2017 to 2021.