
Crunch Top Checkers, 5-3
December 10, 2021 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Syracuse Crunch News Release
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The Syracuse Crunch topped the Charlotte Checkers, 5-3, tonight at Bojangles' Coliseum.
The victory advances the Crunch to 7-9-2-1 on the season and starts the team at 1-0-0-0 in the four-game season series against the Checkers.
Goaltender Max Lagace earned the win stopping 33-of-36 shots in net for the Crunch before being relieved by Amir Miftakhov in the final minutes of the game. Miftakhov turned aside both shots he faced. Checkers netminder Antoine Bibeau blocked 16-of-20. Syracuse went 1-for-3 on the power play, while Charlotte was 2-for-3.
The Crunch were quick to open scoring just 57 seconds into the game when Andrej Sustr sent home a right-point shot. Syracuse doubled their lead at 9:09 when Simon Ryfors tipped Cole Koepke's centering feed.
The Checkers stole one back on the power-play 5:12 into the second period. Lagace blocked the initial shot, but Kole Lind was there to chip in the rebound.
Syracuse responded with two goals just 27 seconds apart to build up a 4-1 lead by the end of the middle frame. At 11:02, Alex Barre-Boulet fired the puck just under the cross bar from the right circle while on the power play. Seconds later, Ryan Jones netted his first goal with the Crunch with a wrister.
Charlotte scored another on the power-play halfway through the third period. Alexander True missed the net wide, but the puck ricocheted off the glass and back into the crease for Lind to pot his second of the night. The Checkers came back within one at the 15:06 mark when Grigori Denisenko lit the lamp with a slap shot.
With 1:06 remaining in the game, Jones hit the empty net to lock in a Crunch win with his second of the game.
The Crunch and Checkers rematch tomorrow at 6 p.m.
Single game tickets and ticket packages for the 2021-22 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: With a goal tonight, Alex Barre-Boulet is now tied with Mathieu Darche for ninth in franchise history with 70.
American Hockey League Stories from December 10, 2021
- Silver Knights Shutout IceHogs, 5-0 - Henderson Silver Knights
- Providence Bruins Fall to Belleville Senators, 4-1 - Providence Bruins
- Checkers' Rally Falls Just Short in 5-3 Loss - Charlotte Checkers
- T-Birds' Return to Action Spoiled by Marlies - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Monsters Fall Short in 3-1 Loss to Comets - Cleveland Monsters
- Comets Defeat Monsters, 3-1 - Utica Comets
- Crunch Top Checkers, 5-3 - Syracuse Crunch
- Five Things: Heat at Tucson - Stockton Heat
- Marlies Open up Weekend on the Road vs. Springfield - Toronto Marlies
- Blue Jackets Recall Defenseman Jake Christiansen from Monsters - Cleveland Monsters
- Penguins Ink Goalie Matt Jurusik to PTO - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Blues Recall F Peca; T-Birds Sign F Smith to Professional Tryout - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Stars Assign Yauheni Aksiantsiuk Back to Idaho - Texas Stars
- AHL Announces Reschedule Date - San Jose Barracuda
- Reign Reveal Rescheduled Dates - Ontario Reign
- Luke Witkowski Reassigned to Grand Rapids - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Abbotsford Canucks Tickets On-Sale Now for Second Half of the Season - Abbotsford Canucks
- Game Preview vs. Rockford: December 10 & 11 - Henderson Silver Knights
- MacDonald Recalled to Colorado Avalanche - Colorado Eagles
- Barracuda Sign a Pair from ECHL to Professional Tryout Agreements - San Jose Barracuda
- Heat Face Roadrunners Friday in Tucson - Stockton Heat
- Bears Recall Goaltender Ryan Bednard from South Carolina - Hershey Bears
- Roadrunners Host Teddy Bear Toss Saturday - Tucson Roadrunners
- Grand Rapids Signs Dickinson, Gazzola to PTOs - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Blue Jackets Assign Goaltender Daniil Tarasov to Monsters - Cleveland Monsters
- Penguins Recall Boomhower, Sign Hutchison to a PTO - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Rangers Assign D Jarred Tinordi to Wolf Pack on Conditioning Stint, Wolf Pack Recall F James Sanchez from Loan - Hartford Wolf Pack
- T-Birds Return to Home Ice - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Netminder Zach Fucale Recalled by Washington - Hershey Bears
- Game #17: Stockton at Tucson - Tucson Roadrunners
- IceHogs Welcome Silver Knights to the BMO for the First Time on $2 Bud Light Friday - Rockford IceHogs
- Wolves Double-Up Stars in High-Scoring Return - Texas Stars
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.
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