CRUNCH LOOK TO REBOUND IN GAME 2
 
The Syracuse Crunch and Cleveland Monsters square off in Game 2 of their North Division Semifinals series today at Rocket Arena in Cleveland.
 
The Monsters earned a 3-2 win in Game 1 and lead the best-of-5 series 1-0. Following today's game, the remainder of the series will be played in Syracuse, beginning with Game 3 on Friday, May 1.
 
BROADCAST COVERAGE
 
Countdown to Crunch Time at 3:45 p.m.
Streaming: Pay-to-watch video via AHLTV on FloHockey | www.syracusecrunch.com/watch
Radio: ESPN Radio Syracuse | www.espncny.com
 
MONSTERS CLING TO GAME 1 WIN
 
The Monsters used a three-goal first period to snag Game 1 of the North Division Semifinals, 3-2, Friday at Rocket Arena.
 
Cleveland opened a 3-0 first period lead that chased Crunch starter Jon Gillies after the first period. Syracuse carried play over the final two periods and outshot Cleveland 28-9 in that span.
 
The Crunch pulled within 3-1 when Dylan Duke scored on a breakaway early in the second period. Mitchell Chaffee pumped one home in the third to make it 3-2, but the Crunch could not complete the comeback.
 
Syracuse has lost seven straight playoff games dating to Game 1 of the 2024 North Division Finals.
 
DUKE'S HOMECOMING
 
Dylan Duke capitalized on a breakaway early in the second period for his second career playoff goal Friday night. Duke, 23, was born in Strongsville, a Cleveland suburb, and grew up attending Monsters games as a kid.
 
The University of Michigan product has enjoyed great success in Cleveland in his career. He's amassed six points (3g, 3a) in five total games at Rocket Arena.
 
KEEING IT CLEAN
 
Neither Syracuse nor Cleveland got a power-play opportunity in Game 1. It marked the second time all season the Crunch played a game where neither team had a chance on the man advantage (also Dec. 20 at Providence).
 
The Crunch power play ranked second in the Eastern Conference and fifth in the AHL during the regular season, converting at a 22.5 percent clip. They averaged 3.64 powerplays per game, tied for third-best in the league.
 
In the regular season series, the Monsters earned 19 power plays while the Crunch were awarded 12.
 
SCOUTING THE MONSTERS
 
Depth scoring led the Monsters to their 3-2 victory in Game 1. None of Friday's goalscorers — Justin Pearson, Will Butcher or Corson Ceulemans — ranked among the team's top five in scoring during the regular season.
 
Pearson scored his third career playoff goal in 21 games, while both Butcher and Ceulemans recorded their first-career Calder Cup Playoff tallies. Pearson's previous playoff tally was the only goal in a 1-0 Game 1 win versus Syracuse in the 2024 North Division Finals. Ceulemans, who netted the game-winner late in the first period, snapped a 24-game goal drought.
 
Zach Sawchenko is now 3-1 against the Crunch this year and 3-0 in games at Rocket Arena. He's played to a 1.67 goals-against average and .940 save percentage versus Syracuse on home ice.
 
CHAFFEE DELIVERS IN AHL PLAYOFF DEBUT
 
Skating in his first career Calder Cup Playoffs game on Friday, Mitchell Chaffee notched his first AHL playoff goal in the third period.
 
Chaffee, 28, dressed for the Lightning in the 2024 and 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, logging one goal across nine contests.
 
In 54 regular season games with Syracuse this year, he ranked third in goals (24) and fourth in points (57).
 
PELLETIER STYMIED BY MONSTERS
 
The Crunch's leading scorer, Jakob Pelletier, was held in check by the Monsters in Game 1. He finished with a plus-1 rating and two shots on goal but went pointless in an AHL game for the first time since Feb. 18.
 
Pelletier finished the regular season with points in 20 straight AHL games to win the John B. Sollenberger Trophy as the league's leading scorer. He had 77 points during the regular season and was only held scoreless in at least two straight games once all season.