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Syracuse Crunch

Devils Third-Period Eruption Burns Crunch, 6-2

April 15, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Syracuse Crunch News Release


ALBANY, N.Y. - Five goals in the third period from the Albany Devils sunk the Syracuse Crunch, 6-2, Wednesday at Times Union Center. Matt Lorito, playing his 11th professional game, provided a goal and four assists and was the game's first star.

Winless in four, Syracuse (41-24-9-0) has two games remaining in its regular season. The Hartford Wolf Pack, tied with the Crunch at 91 points atop the Northeast Division, have three games to play and hold the first tiebreaker against Syracuse.

The Crunch scored the game's first goal for the fourth time in a row. Yanni Gourde registered his team-leading 28th of the year unassisted at 3:41 of the first period. As Henri Ikonen tied up Devils in front of veteran goalie Scott Clemmensen, a loose puck waffled up the slot to Gourde who stepped into a shot that zoomed just under the cross bar. Gourde's 28 goals rank fourth in the AHL.

Joe Whitney, Albany's leading scorer, answered for the Devils at 16:51 of the first during four-on-four action. Lorito and Reece Scarlett assisted. Whitney finished the night with three points, including his 11th and 12th goals of the season.

After a scoreless second period, Seth Helgeson potted his second goal in 47 games. His left-point shot, set up by Whitney and Lorito, put the Devils on top 57 seconds into the third. A minute later, Ben Thomson made an offensive-zone steal and extended Albany's lead to 3-1 with his eighth of the year.

Albany scored its next two goals on its only two power-play chances of the night. First a Whitney laser from the right circle solved Kristers Gudlevskis at 7:33. Six minutes later, Lorito recorded his fourth point of the night, his third goal since joining the Devils March 13. Brandon Burlon and Lorito assisted on Whitney's marker, while Mike Sislo and Reece Scarlett helped on Lorito's score.

Stefan Matteau, who was returned on loan from New Jersey Sunday, scored the Devils sixth goal of the night and fifth of the third period with under four minutes to go. Lorito capped his five-point performance with another assist at 16:16.

Syracuse got its first power play of the night at 17:39 following a scuffle that included Jake Dotchin fighting Matteau, roughing minors against Charlie Dodero and David Wohlberg, and an elbowing minor on Wohlberg. Tanner Richard converted at 18:52 with his 13th of the year, firing home the rebound of a Carter Ashton shot.

Gudlevskis went the distance for Syracuse, stopping 18 of 24 Devils shots. When he last faced Albany, Feb. 27, he gave up seven goals on 23 shots. Clemmensen, facing Syracuse for the first time this year, earned his 10th win with 26 saves on 28 Crunch bids.

Syracuse hosts Adirondack Friday and Bridgeport Saturday to cap its 21st regular season in the AHL.

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