Crunch Fall to Amerks, 8-5, in Game 3
April 28, 2023 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Syracuse Crunch News Release
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The Syracuse Crunch fell to the Rochester Americans, 8-5, in Game 3 of the North Division Semifinals tonight at Blue Cross Arena.
Despite the loss, the Crunch had three multi-point performers, including Simon Ryfors with a hat trick and Alex Barre-Boulet who set a new franchise record for the most points in a playoff game (5). The Crunch still hold a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series against the Amerks.
Goaltender Max Lagace turned aside 19-of-25 shots in net for the Crunch. Malcolm Subban had the win stopping 23-of-28 between the pipes for the Amerks. Syracuse converted on 1-of-3 power play opportunities, while Rochester went 3-for-4.
The Amerks were first on the board with a power-play goal 5:31 into the game. Linus Weissbach skated the puck down the slot and sent a feed over to his right for Isak Rosen to score with a wrister from the circle. The Crunch responded less than a minute later to tie the game, 1-1, off a give-and-go play. Ryfors fed Barre-Boulet as he came around the back of the net and skated out into the slot to send in the return feed. Rochester regained their lead with 2:21 remaining in the opening frame when Michael Mersch was out front to chip in a pass from beyond the goal line.
Syracuse knotted the score for a second time 7:29 into the middle frame. Barre-Boulet gained control of the puck along the end boards and centered it for Gage Goncalves to chip in with a quick stick out front. Rochester went back on top with just 1:05 remaining in the period during 4-on-4 play. Sean Malone cut towards the net and shoveled the puck over Lagace.
The high-scoring third period saw the Crunch and Amerks combine for eight goals. The Amerks went up by two 4:22 into the period when Mason Jobst scored on a shorthanded breakaway. The Crunch were quick to respond and potted back-to-back goals to tie the game yet again. At 5:25, Ryfors grabbed his own rebound and sent it into the net for his second of the game. Two minutes later, Barre-Boulet evened the score with a shot from the right circle while on the power play.
Rochester took back their lead at 15:21 when Jiri Kulich lit the lamp during a 5-on-3 advantage. Just 56 seconds later, Mersch scored his second of the game on the power play. At the 17:27 mark, Ryfors completed his hat trick with a wrister from the left circle to pull the Crunch back within one, but Brett Murray and Mersch both added empty-net goals to give Rochester the victory.
The Crunch and Amerks will play Game 4 in Rochester on Sunday.
Single game tickets and ticket packages for the 2023 Calder Cup Playoffs are on sale now and can be purchased in person at the Crunch office located inside the Upstate Medical University Arena at Onondaga County War Memorial at 800 S. State St. in Syracuse, by calling the office at 315-473-4444 or online through Ticketmaster. For the latest Crunch news, visit www.syracusecrunch.com or follow the club on Facebook (www.facebook.com/syracusecrunch), Twitter (@SyracuseCrunch) and Instagram (@syracusecrunch).
Crunchables: Alex Barre-Boulet set a franchise record for the most points in a playoff game with five (1g, 4a)...Simon Ryfors recorded the first playoff hat trick since Gabriel Dumont against Rochester on April 20, 2018.
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