Sports stats



AHL Syracuse Crunch

Sound Tigers Prevail in OT to Snap Crunch Run

February 6, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Syracuse Crunch News Release


SYRACUfSE, NY - Kael Mouillierat's breakaway goal at the 3:36 mark of overtime propelled the Sound Tigers to a 2-1 victory over the Crunch Friday at the War Memorial Arena, snapping Syracuse's five-game win streak. Neither side collected a goal until the final frame, when both teams earned one goal to force the extra period. Crunch netminder Kristers Gudlevskis made 30 saves, but was slapped with his first overtime loss (15-6-1).

Bridgeport broke the scoreless tie nearly eight minutes into the third period. Jake Dotchin blocked the initial shot from the high slot, but Jesse Graham corralled the puck and sent a slap shot past Gudlevskis to give the Sound Tigers a 1-0 lead. The tally, which came at the 7:41 mark, was assisted by Cory Conacher and Kael Mouillierat.

Syracuse responded 56 seconds later, with its only goal of the night. Vladislav Namestnikov scored his first goal in six games when his wrist shot ricocheted in front of the net and slipped past Sound Tigers goalie David Leggio, tying the game, 1-1.

"Gourde passed it to me from the corner and I tried to one-touch it," Namestnikov said following the loss. "I think it hit something before it went in."

Dalton Smith's fifth assist earned him points in back-to-back games for the third time this season, while Yanni Gourde's helper gives him points in three straight games (1g, 4a).

In overtime Syracuse logged four shots on goal, but Kael Mouillerat's shot halfway through the extra frame was Bridgeport's game-winner. Mouillerat snuck behind the Crunch defense and received a tape-to-tape stretch pass from Jesse Graham before slipping the puck between the legs of Gudlevskis.

"[Mouillierat] got lost," said Crunch defenseman Matt Corrente. "He stepped behind us with a lot more open ice because it's four-on-four. He caught us in a change, so we were scrambling."

Syracuse couldn't convert on two power-play opportunities in a scoreless first period. Matt Corrente's roughing minor at the 17:30 mark provided Bridgeport with its only man advantage of the period, but Kristers Gudlevskis stopped the Sound Tigers' lone shot. Artem Sergeev, playing in his first AHL game of the season, dropped the gloves against Sound Tigers forward Justin Courtnall at 16:40 after Sergeev laid a hard hit on Aaron Ness.

In a scoreless middle stanza, the teams combined for eight minor penalties, five of which occurred at the 5:31 mark following a skirmish behind the Sound Tiger net. Just 14 seconds after a Dalton Smith roughing minor, Henri Ikonen and Jake Dotchin participated in the post-whistle scuffle, resulting in a Bridgeport 5-on-3 power play. In the ensuing two-man advantage, Gudlevskis stopped three Sound Tiger shots to preserve the scoreless tie.

Both teams finished 0-for-4 on the man advantage, while David Leggio stopped 29 shots to earn his seventh win of the season. Nicolas Deschamps, acquired by the Crunch Thursday, played his first game for Syracuse since Dec. 31, 2011, and had two shots.

Check out the Syracuse Crunch Statistics

• Discuss this story on the American Hockey League message board...

American Hockey League Stories from February 6, 2015


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central