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AHL Syracuse Crunch

Crunch Topped by Americans, 6-2

February 20, 2016 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Syracuse Crunch News Release


SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Mike Blunden potted both goals for the Syracuse Crunch tonight as they were topped by the Rochester Americans, 6-2, at the War Memorial Arena.

The Crunch went down by four due to a hat trick by Tim Schaller and a marker by Nick Baptiste before the team finally responded halfway through the second. The back-to-back goals by Blunden brought the Crunch within two, but that was as close as the team would get, falling to the Americans for the fifth time this season. The loss brings Syracuse to 20-22-9-2.

Crunch goaltender Adam Wilcox turned aside 13 of 17 shots before being chased from the game in the second period. Kristers Gudlevskis went on to stop 16 of 17 in relief. Americans netminder Linus Ullmark earned the win, making a season-high 51 saves. Syracuse went 1-for-5 on the power play, while Rochester was a perfect 2-for-2.

The Americans were the first on the board with a minute left in the opening period. Tim Schaller lit the lamp from the left circle after receiving a pass from William Carrier. Justin Bailey picked up a point on the play.

It took Rochester less than four minutes in the middle stanza to built up a four-goal lead. At 1:09, Schaller netted his second consecutive on the power play with the help of Bailey and Matt Donovan. A minute later, Nick Batiste gained control of the puck in front of the cage and sent home his eight of the season. At the 3:56 mark, Schaller completed his second career hat trick. While on the man-advantage, he got a piece of Chad Ruhwedel's slap shot from the high slot. Jason Akeson grabbed the secondary helper.

The Crunch finally managed to solve Ullmark at the 9:14 mark when Blunden tipped Matt Taormina's shot from the left point. Jeff Tambellini recorded the secondary assist on the power-play goal.

Halfway through the final frame, the Crunch pulled within two. Yanni Gourde passed over for Blunden to score his second of the game from the right circle. The comeback quickly fizzled and the Americans were able to add two more before time ran out. At 13:21, Carrier redirected a cross-ice feed from Bailey and scored on the power play from the left wing. Dan Cantenacci wrapped up scoring with an empty net marker late in the period to solidify an Americans victory.

The Crunch return to the War Memorial Arena to host the Binghamton Senators on Friday, Feb. 26 at 7 p.m.

Syracuse Crunch single game and season tickets are on sale now and can be purchased either in person at the Crunch Box Office located in the War Memorial at 800 South State Street in Syracuse or by calling the office at 315-473-4444. For the latest Crunch news, visit www.syracusecrunch.com or follow the club on Facebook (www.facebook.com/syracusecrunch), Twitter (@SyracuseCrunch) and Instagram (@officialsyracusecrunch) using #SyrCrunch and #BelieveInBlue.

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