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AHL Syracuse Crunch

Namestnikov OT Winner Makes Win Streak 10

December 26, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Syracuse Crunch News Release


SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Vladislav Namestnikov's overtime goal 4:16 into the extra period propelled the Syracuse Crunch (20-7-3-0) to a 3-2 win over the Albany Devils (13-10-2-4) Friday at the War Memorial Arena. The victory extends Syracuse's win streak to 10 and keeps the Crunch atop the Northeast Division with 43 points.

Following a scoreless first period that featured eight penalties, Albany opened the scoring in the middle frame. While the teams skated 4-on-4 due to matching Dalton Smith and Mark Fraser minors, Brandon Burlon received a pass from Joe Whitney and buried the puck past Crunch netminder Andre Vasilevskiy, earning the Devils a 1-0 advantage. Burlon's third goal of the season was also Whitney's team-leading 14th assist, giving him a team-high 24 points on the year.

Seven minutes later the Crunch had an opportunity to tie the game when Nikita Nesterov was awarded his first career penalty shot. Nesterov's attempt was stopped by the right pad of Devils goaltender Scott Wedgewood.

At the 13:00 mark of the second period, Syracuse even the score with Mike Blunden's sixth goal of the year. The Toronto native took the puck in stride on a stretch pass from J.P. Cote banked off the neutral zone boards. He finished the breakaway with a shot under Wedgewood's left pad to tie the game, 1-1. Cote garnered his fifth assist, while Dylan Blujus tallied his eighth helper.

Albany wasted no time in the third period, scoring just 1:27 into the final stanza. Joe Whitney's slap shot from just outside the blue line hit Vasilevskiy's chest protector and popped into the air. Before Vasilevskiy could find the loose puck, Reid Boucher tapped it across the goal line giving Albany a 2-1 lead.

It wasn't until the 18:33 mark of the third period when Syracuse answered. Crunch forward Jonathan Marchessault found defenseman Joey Mormina by the net mouth and Mormina put the puck in the back of the net to tie the game. The goal was Mormina's first since Feb. 8, 2013, while Marchessault moved past Yanni Gourde for the team scoring lead with his 25th point.

The 4-on-4 overtime began as a 4-on-3 with Syracuse on the penalty kill. Luke Witkowski's slashing minor was successfully killed, before Philippe Paradis and Tim Sestito grappled by the benches, earning them each two minutes in the sin bin. While skating 3-on-3, Marchessault created space in the left wing corner and fed Namestnikov between the circles for a quick wrister and the overtime winner. The goal was Namestnikov's third in as many games and his second consecutive game-winning goal. Marchessault earned his second assist of the night on the overtime tally, his fifth multi-point game.

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