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Syracuse Crunch

Syracuse Atop AHL After 4-3 Win in Rochester

February 22, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Syracuse Crunch News Release


ROCHESTER, N.Y. - The Syracuse Crunch claimed the American Hockey League's best record with a 4-3 win Sunday in Rochester, the team's third consecutive victory and 32nd of the season in 53 contests (32-13-8-0) for 72 points.

Vladislav Namestnikov provided two goals and one assist, his first three-point game since his Crunch season debut Dec. 5. The third-year pro has six points in three games and 30 points in 31 AHL games this year. His 11th goal of the year at 6:14 of the first period, set up by Slater Koekkoek's centering pass, put Syracuse in front, 1-0.

Matt Corrente recorded his first multi-point game of the year with an assist on Namestnikov's first goal and scoring the team's second at 17:54 of the first. Yanni Gourde and Joey Mormina garnered assists on Corrente's first goal since Oct. 18, a right-circle wrister.

Dalton Smith, scratched in the previous two games, fought Justin Kea at 3:30 of the second period, his fifth fighting major of the season. He extended Syracuse's lead to three goals 13 minutes later with his 11th goal of the year, assisted by Tanner Richard who made a cross-ice pass to the right of the cage for two attempts by Smith. Namestnikov collected the second assist.

The Amerks answered 11 seconds later when Brodie Reid snuck behind the Syracuse defense for his eighth. Nick Tuzzolino and Jerome Leduc assisted.

Syracuse made the lead 4-1 at 18:11 of the second when Jonathan Marchessault fed Namestnikov darting through the right circle. He ripped his 12th of the year inside the right post past Amerks netminder Andrey Makarov who finished with 19 saves on 23 Syracuse shots.

Rochester crept within one of tying the score. A power-play goal with two seconds remaining in the second pulled the Amerks within 4-2. Phil Varone's 22nd marker was set up by Brayden Irwin and Cameron Burt. Irwin also had the primary assist at 8:33 of the third, springing Jerry D'Amigo for a breakaway goal. Brady Austin had the second assist.

Crunch netminder Allen York, making his third appearance and second start for Syracuse this year, made 26 stops and nabbed his first AHL win in one year. York's final AHL game of 2013-14 was a 39-save shutout for Syracuse against Hershey Feb. 22, 2014.

Syracuse was 0-for-1 on the power play and 2-for-3 on the penalty kill.

The Crunch visit the Amerks again Wednesday at 7:05 leading the season series 4-2.

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