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AHL Syracuse Crunch

Sharks Swallow Crunch, Snap Syracuse Streak at 10

December 27, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Syracuse Crunch News Release


SYRACUSE, N.Y. - For the first time in 30 days, the Syracuse Crunch (20-8-3-0) skated off the ice in defeat, falling to the Worcester Sharks (12-13-3-1), 4-2, Saturday night at the War Memorial Arena. After allowing a pair of second-period goals, Syracuse never had the lead while Sharks goaltender Troy Grosenick snapped his five-game AHL losing streak.

Although Worcester made its presence known in its first and only trip to Syracuse this season, first-period scoring chances were rare. The Crunch outshot the Sharks, 7-4, in the frame and neither team found the back of the net. Bryan Lerg's penalty shot at the 3:07 mark of the first was the best chance for either side, but his shot sailed high.

The Sharks broke the scoreless tie 8:43 into the second period. After Joey Mormina was assessed two minutes for unsportsmanlike conduct, former Crunch defenseman Matt Taormina ripped a slap shot from the right circle that beat Syracuse netminder Kristers Gudlevskis. The tally was Taormina's fourth of the season and gave Worcester a 1-0 advantage. Bryan Lerg and Taylor Fedun were credited with the assists on the play.

Ten minutes after Worcester's first tally, the Sharks doubled their lead. Gudlevskis stopped Riley Brace's left-circle shot but Willie Coetzee potted the rebound home. Coetzee's first goal of the season earned Worcester a 2-0 lead with 2:53 remaining in the middle stanza.

The Sharks tallied their third goal of the contest at the 3:31 mark of the final period. Evan Trupp took a Jeremy Langlois wraparound feed and slipped the puck past Gudlevskis to give Worcester a 3-0 advantage. Trupp's seventh goal of the season also served as Langlois' seventh assist.

Syracuse fought back, though, getting on the scoreboard halfway through the third period. Following a Jeremy Langlois delay-of-game minor, Yanni Gourde slammed home a rebound of a Slater Koekkoek point shot, slicing the deficit to 3-1. Gourde's team-leading 13th goal was also assisted by Tanner Richard. Trailing by two goals with less than three minutes remaining in the period, Dalton Smith cut the Sharks lead to one, converting on the rush during a delayed penalty. A streaking Jonathan Marchessault found Smith coming down the left wing and Smith one-timed the Marchessault feed past Grosenick. Smith's eighth goal of the season was Marchessault's team-leading 19th assist and 27th point.

Two goals were all the Crunch managed in the final frame as Jeremy Langlois added an empty-net goal at the 18:29 mark, sealing the Sharks' 4-2 victory.

Syracuse scored once on three power-play opportunities, while Worcester converted on its only chance. Eight penalty minutes were served total, the fewest in a Crunch game this year. Sharks goaltender Troy Grosenick earned the victory stopping 23 shots, while Gudlevskis was handed his first loss since Nov. 28, the last time the Crunch lost.

The Crunch visit Springfield Sunday at 5 p.m. looking to reclaim the Northeast Division lead with the Falcons having taken first place with one point Friday, an overtime loss in Albany.

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