AHL Syracuse Crunch

Crunch Use Second-Period Rally to Down Penguins 4-3

January 10, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Syracuse Crunch News Release


SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The Syracuse Crunch (23-9-5-0) scored three straight goals after trailing 2-1 in the second to down the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (20-15-1-3), 4-3, Saturday at the War Memorial.

Jonathan Marchessault began the rally at 3:29 of the second with a trick-shot backhander, swatting an airborne puck over the shoulder of Jeff Zatkoff to tie the game, 2-2. Vladislav Namestnikov flicked the puck toward the net and Marchessault found it for his 10th goal of the season.

"I tried to stick with it and see where it was going to land," Marchessault said. "It hit off the top of my blade in a good spot. It was a bit lucky, but you make your own luck."

Mike Blunden tallied his 10th goal of the year and fourth in three games with a deflection 11 minutes later off of a Luke Witkowski slap shot from the right side to give the Crunch a 3-2 lead. Marchessault registered his second point of the game, increasing his season total to 33 points (10g, 23a), most on the Crunch and tied for seventh in the AHL.

Henri Ikonen added insurance with a one-timer from the slot at 14:16 of the third. Joel Vermin centered the puck to Ikonen, who ripped it past Zatkoff. Mike Angelidis had the second assist. The Penguins scored a late power-play marker with Zatkoff pulled for an extra attacker which made Ikonen's third-period tally the game-winner.

Philippe Paradis made a mark quickly in his return from injury, scoring the first goal of the game at 4:16 of the first. Joey Mormina ripped a shot from the left point and a Paradis deflection carried the puck through Zatkoff's legs for Paradis' eighth goal of the season. Matt Corrente contributed the secondary assist, his first of the season.

"I felt a little bit rusty at the beginning," Paradis said. "I couldn't do much cardio with my injury so I'm a bit tired. I'm glad to be back with the boys. I missed being around them when they'd go on the road and I was back here."

The Penguins responded with two late markers to close out the first period, both from the stick of Jayson Megna. The first came on a drop pass in the left-wing circle by Scott Harrington which Megna ripped under the arm of Kristers Gudlevskis. Slightly over four minutes later, Megna charged in from center ice, down the right side, and sent a blistering shot to the top of the net to give the Penguins a 2-1 lead.

Gudlevskis was pulled after the first period, giving way to Andrei Vasilevskiy, who made 11 saves to record his 12th victory of the season. Jeff Zatkoff, who entered the night with the best goals-against average in the AHL, stopped 25 of 29 Syracuse shots in his eighth loss.

The Crunch have nearly a week off before a three-in-three road trip starting in Binghamton Friday and finishing with two games in Bridgeport. Syracuse defeated Binghamton, 5-4, in overtime Jan. 3. The trip to Bridgeport will be the first of eight battles between the teams this season.

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