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AHL Syracuse Crunch

Peca collects first point, but Crunch fall, 3-2

April 4, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Syracuse Crunch News Release


BRIDGEPORT, Conn. - The Syracuse Crunch fought back from a two-goal deficit in the third period, but the Bridgeport Sound Tigers scored their second power-play goal of the contest to secure a 3-2 victory Saturday at Webster Bank Arena. The Crunch (40-21-9-0) are winless in four but hold a four-point lead for tops in the Northeast Division.

Matthew Peca recorded his first professional point for Syracuse, assisting on Kevin Lynch's game-tying goal at 7:34 of the third. Peca, the former Quinnipiac captain who joined the Crunch earlier in the week, curled in the left circle and snuck a perfectly-timed pass between two Sound Tigers to the net mouth. Lynch, crashing the net, jammed the puck past goalie Stephon Williams for his second marker of the year for a 2-2 tie. Charlie Dodero earned the second assist.

Williams, playing his first professional game, later denied Peca's one-handed backhand shot by diving from his right to his left. Williams denied 30 of 32 Syracuse shots, including 13 of 15 in the third, to hold off the Crunch and earn his first victory. Williams' teammates helped shut down both Crunch power plays, including a five-minute Syracuse man advantage resulting from a major boarding call against Lukas Sutter for his hit on Joel Vermin late in the second. Vermin did not return and Sutter was given a game misconduct.

The Sound Tigers power play, starting the day eighth in the league, produced two goals. Ryan Pulock factored on both, including the game-winning goal at 14:50 of the third. After a Alan Quine started the play, Pulock finessed a centering pass from the right boards to the net mouth that Johan Sundstrom forced through Crunch goalie Allen York.

Pulock scored Bridgeport's first power-play goal at 3:47 of the second to make the score 2-0. His center-point blast through traffic in front gave him 13 power-play goals for the season, second most in the AHL and tops among rookies and defensemen. Quine and Aaron Ness assisted.

Kael Mouillierat scored first for Bridgeport at 17:49 of the first., his third goal of the year against Syracuse. Mike Halmo's initial bid from the blue line was saved by York, but no one but Mouillierat found the rebound. Sebastian Collberg notched the second assist. York dealt with 11 shots against him in the first and 15 the rest of the game, allowing one goal in each period. He drops to 2-3-1 in eight appearances.

Syracuse's comeback began at 3:50 of the third when Jake Dotchin set up Cody Kunyk in the high slot with Jonathan Marchessault beside the net. A Kunyk shot was tipped home by Marchessault, the 22nd goal and 60th point of the season for the Crunch's leading scorer. Kunyk improved to 24 points (9g, 15a) and Dotchin to 19 points (6g, 13a).

Two fights in the game pitted Joey Mormina against Mike Halmo in the second, followed five minutes later by Eric Neilson versus Scooter Vaughan.

With the season series at three wins apiece, the Crunch host the Sound Tigers in their next game 7 p.m. Friday at the War Memorial Arena.

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