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Syracuse Crunch

Americans Survive Crunch Comebacks, 5-4

February 5, 2016 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Syracuse Crunch News Release


SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The Syracuse Crunch came back from a pair of two-goal deficits in the second and third period tonight against the Rochester Americans at the War Memorial Arena. Despite the late momentum, the Crunch were unable to overtake the Americans and eventually fell, 5-4.

After going down, 2-0, in the second period, Matt Taormina and Tanner Richard tallied consecutive markers to even the score. Rochester rallied to build back another two-goal lead in the third, but Syracuse responded again with back-to-back goals by Adam Erne. The comeback effort fell just short and the team was eventually edged late in the third. Along with Erne, Mike Blunden and Yanni Gourde posted multi-point games, registering two assists each.

Crunch goaltender Kristers Gudlevskis stopped 18 of 22 shots before being relieved by Adam Wilcox in the third period. Wilcox went on to turn aside 9-of-10. Americans netminder earned the win, making 39 saves. Syracuse went 1-for-3 on the power-play and 1-for-3 on the penalty kill.

The loss continues a four-game skid for the Crunch and puts them at 19-18-8-1 on the season and 2-1-2-1 in the 10-game series with Rochester.

After a scoreless first period, the middle frame saw four markers. The Americans opened scoring at 1:04 when Justin Bailey fed William Carrier in the slot. Tim Schaller assisted on the opening tally. Rochester went up by two seven minutes later while on the power play. Phil Varone won the face-off in the right circle. The puck was chipped out for Matt Donovan grab and send home with a wrister.

The Crunch finally responded with 5:29 remaining in the frame. Taormina beat Ullmark from the slot with the help of Tye McGinn and Anthony DeAngelo. Before the period came to a close, Syracuse evened the score. Slater Koekkoek threw a cross-slot pass for Richard to net from the bottom of the right circle. Gourde earned his first assist of the night on the equalizer.

It took Rochester less than five minutes in the third period to regain their two-goal lead. At 1:03, Gudlevskis was edged out of the crease during a scrum, allowing Bailey to light the lamp on the power play. Assists went to Carrier and Jerome Leduc. Three minutes later, Carrier carried the puck down the left wing side. He sent it over for Tim Schaller to score and chase Gudlevskis from the game.

Erne went on a scoring binge beginning at 5:25. With Joey Mormina in the box for high-sticking, Erne received a pass from Blunden, skated across the blue line and fired around an Americans defender for his first shorthanded goal of the season. Just past the halfway mark, Erne tipped Blunden's shot from the left circle to knot the score, 4-4. Gourde picked up the secondary helper on the power-play goal.

With 5:11 remaining in the third, Evan Rodrigues regained the lead for Rochester. Syracuse ran out of time to come back and fell, 5-4.

The Crunch return to the War Memorial to host the Springfield Falcons tomorrow at 7 p.m.

Syracuse Crunch single game and season tickets are on sale now and can be purchased either in person at the Crunch Box Office located in the War Memorial at 800 South State Street in Syracuse or by calling the office at 315-473-4444. For the latest Crunch news, visit www.syracusecrunch.com or follow the club on Facebook (www.facebook.com/syracusecrunch), Twitter (@SyracuseCrunch) and Instagram (@officialsyracusecrunch) using #SyrCrunch and #BelieveInBlue.

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