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AHL Syracuse Crunch

Blunden Nets Game Winner, Crunch Down Amerks 3-2

December 17, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Syracuse Crunch News Release


ROCHESTER, N.Y. - The Crunch (17-7-3-0) never trailed in a 3-2 victory over the Rochester Americans (10-17-1-0) Wednesday at Blue Cross Arena. Syracuse extends its win streak to seven and moves into a tie atop the Northeast Division with Springfield at 37 points.

Mike Blunden netted the game-winning goal at the 2:14 mark of the third period when he grabbed a loose puck in front of the net and ripped a shot past Andrey Makarov for his fourth goal of the season. The Toronto native has points in four straight games since returning from an injury Dec. 10. Mike Angelidis and Cody Kunyk assisted on the goal.

The Crunch took one-goal leads early in the first and second periods, but the Amerks responded with power-play goals each time.

Philippe Paradis scored the opening goal in his first game since being injured against Rochester Dec. 6. Paradis potted his seventh of the season, at the 1:19 mark of the first, when he tipped a Joey Mormina point shot into the back of the net. Yanni Gourde received the second assist on the play thanks to a cross-ice pass. Matt Ellis responded for the Amerks with a tip-shot goal on the man-advantage late in the first period.

Gourde scored his team-leading 12th goal of the season to give Syracuse a 2-1 lead at the 5:24 mark of the second period. Tanner Richard and Slater Koekkoek assisted on the goal. Once again, Rochester responded when Chad Ruhwedel found the back of the net five minutes later for the Americans' second power-play goal of the game. They finished 2-for-6, while Syracuse was 0-for-4.

Kristers Gudlevskis won his ninth game of the season, and third in a row, stopping 27 of 29 shots, including a Tim Schaller penalty shot. Makarov finished with 15 saves on 18 shots faced.

Syracuse plays its third consecutive road game Friday in Hartford, facing the Wolf Pack for the fourth time this season. The Crunch are 2-0-1-0 against the Rangers' affiliate in the first three of eight contests between the teams this year.

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