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Syracuse Crunch

Five-Goal First Helps Crunch Hold off Wolf Pack

December 5, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Syracuse Crunch News Release


SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Vladislav Namestnikov wasted little time in his Crunch season debut, scoring a power-play goal early in the first period and adding two assists in a 6-5 Syracuse win Friday against the Hartford Wolf Pack.

The Crunch opened the scoring early and netted five first-period goals, a season high.

Hartford slowly chipped away at the Crunch lead and pulled the game within 5-3 after through two periods. Danny Kristo scored a power-play tally 2:52 into the third to make it a one score game.

Mike Angelidis gave the Crunch some breathing room at the 6:11 mark of the third, when he scored his second of the game, from his back in front of the net, to give Syracuse a 6-4 lead. Namestnikov got his third point of the game (1g, 2a) on the captain's marker.

The high-scoring affair started when Namestnikov found his way to the front of the net and tipped a rebound by Mackenzie Skapski 59 seconds into the game, a power-play goal. It was the Russian center's first goal in a Syracuse sweater since April 11 against W-B/Scranton. Tonight was Namestnikov's Crunch season debut after being reassigned by Tampa Bay Wednesday.

"I was a little out of breath at first," Namestnikov said. "Once I got a couple shifts in, I was pretty good. I was just trying to go out there and help the team. It's nice to get that goal and boosts the confidence a lot."

The Crunch added two more goals, 18 seconds apart, and chased Skapski from the net. Angelidis netted the first on the backhand after Yanni Gourde weaved through three defenders and found the captain. The second marker came from Joel Vermin, who redirected a Nikita Nesterov shot from the point.

Namestnikov tallied his second point of the game on the Vermin goal, and Dalton Smith moved his season total to three assists on the Angelidis marker.

Former Crunch goalie Cedric Desjardins took the net for Hartford after Skapski gave up three goals in less than three minutes.

Jake Dotchin netted his first professional goal with a power-play slapper from the point 13:34 into the first. Exactly three minutes later, Gourde carried over his November hot streak with his team-leading 10th goal, and 21st point of the season. Tanner Richard and Philippe Paradis assisted Gourde's goal.

The Crunch welcome I-90 rival Rochester to the War Memorial Arena Saturday night for the second matchup of the season between the two foes. The Amerks won a Halloween night contest, 3-0. The two teams will face off six more times after Saturday.

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