
Crunch Take Down Bears, 4-1
December 8, 2023 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Syracuse Crunch News Release
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The Syracuse Crunch took down the Hershey Bears, 4-1, tonight at the Upstate Medical University Arena.
The Crunch snapped the Bear's nine-game winning streak and extended a five-game streak of their own. Syracuse is now 13-5-0-2 on the season.
Goaltender Matt Tomkins recorded the win stopping 21-of-22 shots in net for the Crunch. Hunter Shepard turned aside 18-of-21 between the pipes for the Bears. The Syracuse power play converted on 2-of-4 opportunities, while the penalty kill was a perfect 3-for-3.
The Crunch opened scoring 5:17 into the game with a power-play goal. Sean Day fired a shot from the blue line that was tipped past Shepard by Waltteri Merelä. Hershey quickly responded and Ryan Hofer tied the game four minutes later with a wrister from between the circles. Syracuse then potted another power-play marker to go back on top at 13:01. Gage Goncalves ripped a one-timer from the right circle that rang off the goal post and out for Mitchell Chaffee to send in from the left circle.
Syracuse continued to build on their lead with Tristan Allard's first professional goal late in the second period. Emil Lilleberg's shot from the high slot got caught in traffic, but Allard was down low to shove it across the goal line.
The Crunch held the Bears off through the third period and Daniel Walcott potted the final goal of the game into an empty net to lock in a Crunch win.
The Crunch host the Utica Comets tomorrow night.
Single game tickets and ticket packages for the 2023-24 season 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: Gage Goncalves has seven points (2g, 5a) in his last four games...Mitchell Chaffee is on a four-game goal-scoring streak.
• Discuss this story on the American Hockey League message board...
American Hockey League Stories from December 8, 2023
- Rory Kerins Notches Three Points in Calgary Victory - Manitoba Moose
- Gulls Shut Out IceHogs - San Diego Gulls
- Hunt Nets Two Goals In Eagles' 4-2 Victory Over Tucson - Colorado Eagles
- Admirals Tame Wild - Milwaukee Admirals
- Griffins Open Three-Game Weekend with 5-2 Loss to Senators - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Amerks Tripped up by Checkers, Drop Second Straight - Rochester Americans
- Sens Earn Third Straight Win, Extend Point Streak To Five Games, With Victory Over Griffins - Belleville Senators
- Iowa's Third Period Rally Falls Short in 4-2 Defeat - Iowa Wild
- Stars Skate Past Wolves on Teddy Bear Toss Night - Texas Stars
- Gulls Dominate Hogs at BMO Center - Rockford IceHogs
- Dipietro, P-Bruins Blank Phantoms for Sixth Straight Victory - Providence Bruins
- Checkers Torch Amerks 6-1 Behind Perlini Hat Trick - Charlotte Checkers
- Alex Belzile Stars in Return to Laval as Wolf Pack Storm Back to Win 4-3 in Shootout - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Wolves Downed by Stars 5-2 - Chicago Wolves
- Nylander Nabs Two as Penguins Trounce Monsters, 5-3 - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Crunch Take Down Bears, 4-1 - Syracuse Crunch
- Monsters Come up Short in 5-3 Loss to Penguins - Cleveland Monsters
- Comets' Daws Victorious Versus Islanders in Return Game, 4-1 - Utica Comets
- Bears' Win Streak Snapped in 4-1 Loss to Crunch - Hershey Bears
- Game Notes: MB at CGY - Calgary Wranglers
- Morning Skate Report: December 8, 2023 - Henderson Silver Knights
- Predators Assign Two to Milwaukee - Milwaukee Admirals
- Western Mass News/Cozi TV to Broadcast Six Thunderbirds Games in 2023-24 - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Syracuse Crunch to Hold Knockout Poker Tournament at Turning Stone Resort Casino January 10 - Syracuse Crunch
- Wolf Pack Head North for Weekend Series with Rocket - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Game Preview: Iowa Wild vs. Milwaukee Admirals - Iowa Wild
- Rockford Welcomes San Diego to Stateline for First Meeting Since 2017 - Rockford IceHogs
- Bjork out 7-10 Days with Facial Injury - Rockford IceHogs
- Game Preview: Bears at Crunch, 7 p.m. - Hershey Bears
- Penguins Sign Tanner Laderoute to PTO - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Game Preview: Condors at Reign, 7 p.m. - Bakersfield Condors
- Game #21: Tucson Roadrunners vs. Colorado Eagles - Tucson Roadrunners
- Bridgeport Islanders Begin Six-Game Road Trip in Utica - Bridgeport Islanders
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent Syracuse Crunch Stories
- Crunch Shut out by Amerks, 4-0, in Game 3
- Syracuse Crunch Loan Goaltender Ryan Fanti to Orlando Solar Bears
- Tampa Bay Lightning Reassign Defenseman Max Crozier, Forward Conor Geekie to Syracuse Crunch
- Syracuse Crunch and Empower Federal Credit Union Partner for Goals for Charity
- Tampa Bay Lightning Recall Defenseman Max Crozier from Syracuse Crunch

