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AHL Syracuse Crunch

Crunch Fall to Penguins, 5-1, in Game 1

April 24, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Syracuse Crunch News Release


WILKES-BARRE, PENN. - The Syracuse Crunch fell to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, 5-1, in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals tonight at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza.

Crunch netminder Kristers Gudlevskis stopped 16-of-20 shots before being replaced by Adam Wilcox in the second period. Wilcox went on to turn aside 14-of-15. Penguins goaltender Matt Muray allowed one goal on 23 shots. Neither team was productive on the power play, with Syracuse going zero-for-two, while Wilkes-Barre/Scranton was shut down on all four man-advantages.

The Penguins were first to solve the opposing netminder and took a 1-0 lead with 3:08 remaining in the opening frame. While caught up against the boards behind the Crunch's cage, Tom Kuhnhackl sent a chip shot out into the crease. Dominik Uher got a stick on it and redirected it past Gudlevskis. Carter Rowney grabbed a point for the secondary assist.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton struck three times in the second period before Syracuse got on the board. At 6:03, Kasperi Kapanen pulled the puck out of a battle following the draw and fired a wrister from the right circle. Jayson Megna picked up the assist. Just 31 seconds later, Rowney found the back of the net with the help of Barry Goers and Uher.

Building on the momentum, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton lit the lamp yet again at the 7:43 mark. Gudlevskis stopped the initial shot from Goers, but left the back door open for Kapanen to clean up his second of the contest and chase the goaltender from the game. Megna was the fourth Penguin to register a multi-point night with the secondary helper.

The Crunch finally responded with six minutes remaining in the period. Captain Mike Angelidis threw a cross-crease pass that was redirected by Matthew Peca to put the team on the board and close out scoring for the second frame. Joel Vermin also tallied a point on the play.

With 7:28 remaining in Game 1, the Penguins stole back a four-goal lead and carried it to the final buzzer when Danny Syvret ripped an unassisted shot from the high slot.

The Crunch and Penguins will play Game 2 on Saturday, April 25 at 7:05 p.m. in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton before returning to Syracuse for Game 3 on Wednesday, April 29 at 7 p.m.

Tickets for Round One Game A of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals are on sale now and can be purchased either in person at the Crunch Box Office located at the War Memorial on 800 South State Street in Syracuse, or by calling the office at (315) 473-4444. For the latest Crunch information, visit the team's official website, syracusecrunch.com, or follow the club on Facebook, facebook.com/syracusecrunch, Twitter, @SyracuseCrunch, and Instagram, @officialsyracusecrunch.

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