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AHL Syracuse Crunch

Shorthanded Goals Help Syracuse Steam by Phantoms, 6-1

March 25, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Syracuse Crunch News Release


ALLENTOWN, Pa. - The Syracuse Crunch used shorthanded goals from Joey Mormina and Jonathan Marchessault to defeat the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, 6-1, in the Crunch's first ever visit to PPL Center. Kristers Gudlevskis made 27 saves and won his fifth-straight start to help the Crunch (39-18-8-0, 86 points) move within a point of Hershey for second place in the Eastern Conference. Syracuse holds a nine-point division lead in the Northeast Division.

Mormina potted the Crunch's first shorthanded goal of the game at 11:46 of the first period to open the scoring. After a defensive zone steal, Cody Kunyk streaked into the zone from the left wing, peeled off at the faceoff dot, and fed Mormina at the left point. Mormina's slap shot hit off a Phantoms defenseman and went past Lehigh Valley goalie Rob Zepp. Mormina has four goals, the most he's had in a season since 2011-12 when he had six.

Syracuse extended its lead in the second period on an unassisted goal from Jonathan Marchessault at 8:45. Skating coast to coast, the Crunch's points leader shot the puck off the crossbar on a rush with Ryan Martindale and Cody Kunyk. Marchessault has goals in three consecutive games for the second time this season (Nov. 1-8, 2014) and is on a four-game point streak.

Two minutes after Marchessault's goal, Slater Koekkoek tallied for the Crunch to move Syracuse ahead, 3-0. The 21-year-old received a cross-ice feed from Ryan Martindale and earned his 25th point of the season, most among Syracuse defensemen. Koekkoek has two goals and nine assists in his last 14 games.

With 2:30 left in the second period, Cody Kunyk was called for a major boarding penalty and fought Brandon Manning who also took an instigating minor. Though Kunyk was assessed a game misconduct, Syracuse scored its second shorthanded goal of the game on carryover penalty time in the third. Jonathan Marchessault's left-wing backhand shot made it 4-0 at 2:19. The Crunch's points leader has 21 goals and 55 points this season and has at least 20 goals in each of his four AHL seasons. His career high is 24 goals.

The Crunch's second shorthanded goal and sixth of the year chased goalie Rob Zepp for Anthony Stolarz. Zepp suffered the loss, making 15 saves on 19 shots. Stolarz made 11 saves and surrendered two goals in relief.

Following a pass from Joel Vermin to the left corner, Justin Courtnall cut in front of the net and took a backhand shot between his legs to beat Stolarz for the Crunch's fifth goal at 4:47 of the third. Courtnall assisted on Ryan Martindale's goal moments later for his second multi-point game of the season. Courtnall has five points (3g, 2a) in seven games with Syracuse after seven points (4g, 3a) in 40 games with Bridgeport. Martindale's third goal with the Crunch and 11th of the season came at the 8:12 mark for a 6-0 lead. Jake Dotchin took the second assist.

Syracuse's penalty kill stopped Lehigh Valley on its first four power-play chances and finished 5-for-6 after giving up a goal to Blair Jones at 9:22 of the third. The goal ended the Crunch's streak at 24-straight kills, Syracuse's best mark since the franchise became affiliated with the Tampa Bay Lightning prior to the 2012-13 season.

The Crunch have won six of seven games and return home to face division foe Bridgeport 7 p.m. Friday.

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