CRUNCH WRAP UP REGULAR SEASON
 
The Syracuse Crunch rematch against the Belleville Senators tonight in the regular season finale at Upstate Medical University Arena.
 
Syracuse fell to the Sens last night, 6-4, in Belleville. The Crunch still lead the season series four games to three.
 
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 lost their second straight game last night, 6-4, to the Belleville Senators at CAA Arena.
 
It was a low-scoring game through 40 minutes, with Belleville holding a 1-0 lead. The two clubs, however, combined for nine goals in the third period.
 
The Senators took a 3-0 lead with goals at 2:05 and 4:40. Ethan Samson got the Crunch on the board at 8:38, but Belleville responded 25 seconds later. The teams then scored three times in less than two minutes. Syracuse trimmed its deficit to 4-3 on two goals in 19 seconds from Gabriel Szturc (12:47) and Samson (13:06), but the Sens retook their two-goal lead at 14:11.
 
Szturc potted his second with three minutes to play to cut it to one again, but Belleville hit an empty-netter with 1:20 remaining to secure the 6-4 win.
 
CRUNCH FINISH SECOND IN THE NORTH
 
With last night's loss, Syracuse is locked into second place in the North Division. It's the team's highest finish since the 2022-23 season.
 
The Crunch will face off against either the Cleveland Monsters or Toronto Marlies in the North Division Semifinals. A Toronto regulation loss to Laval today (4 p.m.) would set up a matchup with Cleveland.
 
FAN APPRECIATION NIGHT
 
The Crunch celebrate Fan Appreciation Night in their final home game of the regular season. All fans will receive a 2025-26 Team Photo, courtesy of Tully's Good Times. There will be a 30-minute autograph session following the game. Fans can enter the ice for the autograph session through the Section 108 door.
 
The Crunch's 22 home wins are the most they've had since 2021-22 (24). They have a plus-35 goal differential at home, which is on pace to be their best mark since 2018-19 (plus-60).
 
SCOUTING THE SENATORS
 
Belleville snapped a three-game losing streak against Syracuse with last night's win.
 
In the victory, Arthur Kaliyev became the first 40-goal scorer in the nine-year history of the Belleville Senators. 
 
The Sens got a pair of first pro goals — one from Hoyt Stanley and one from Blake Montgomery — plus a first pro win for Kevin Reidler, who made 24 saves. 
 
SAMSON STRIKES TWICE
 
Ethan Samson recorded the first two-goal game of his AHL career last night. The blueliner now has five points (3g, 2a) in his last four contests.
 
Samson, 22, came to Syracuse in a trade with Philadelphia on Dec. 6. He's notched five goals, eight assists and a plus-4 rating in 29 games with the Crunch. He has 20 career AHL goals in 171 games for the Crunch and the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
 
REINFORCEMENTS ARRIVE
 
Forward Milo Roelens and defenseman Dyllan Gill has been reassigned to the Crunch from the Orlando Solar Bears. 
 
Roelens, 23, has three assists in 19 games for the Crunch this season. He also has 20 points (11g, 9a) in 39 games with Orlando.
 
Gill, 21, picked up 18 points (3g, 15a) for the Solar Bears. He played in two Crunch games in November.