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AHL Syracuse Crunch

Syracuse Crunch Weekly

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


LAST WEEK

Fri., March 20 - Crunch vs. W-B/Scranton - W, 2-1 OT

Sat., March 21 - Crunch vs. Utica - L, 4-2

Sun., March 22 - Crunch at Springfield - W, 4-1

THIS WEEK

Wed., March 25 - Crunch at Lehigh Valley - 7:05 p.m.

Fri., March 27 - Crunch vs. Bridgeport - 7 p.m.

Sat., March 28 - Crunch vs. Rochester - 7 p.m. (TV)

NEED TO KNOW

- Syracuse owns a seven-point Northeast Division lead (38-18-8-0) and ranks third in the Eastern Conference.

- The Crunch have 12 games remaining in the regular season (7 home, 5 away), but only two against East playoff teams.

- In the last 10 games Syracuse's power play is 12-for-40 (30%); in nine games its penalty kill is 36-for-40 (90%).

Rookie defensemen contributing with points

During the Crunch's Week 24 three-in-three weekend, rookie defensemen Jake Dotchin, Dylan Blujusand Slater Koekkoek combined for eight points (1g, 7a), the most the group has contributed in any three-game stretch.

Koekkoek (24p), Blujus (19p), and Dotchin (16p) total 59 points this season, the most for a trio of rookie defensemen in the AHL. No other team in the AHL boasts three rookie defensemen with at least 15 points each.

The Crunch are tied with Rockford for the highest scoring pair of rookie defensemen. Koekkoek's and Blujus's combined 43 points are tied with Rockford's Ville Pokka and Stephen Johns for highest scoring rookie two-some.

Blujus has four assists in the last two games, his third and fourth multi-point performances, including three power-play assists. Koekkoek has 10 points (1g, 9a) in his last 13 games including Friday's overtime winner.

Suffocating defense

The Crunch allowed a season low 14 shots on goal to Springfield Sunday, the fewest shots allowed by Syracuse in a game since March 27, 2013, at Rochester. The Crunch gave up two shots in the second period, tying a season low.

The 14 shots allowed was the fourth-fewest given up by an AHL team this season, two shy of Portland's AHL-best effort against Hartford in February.

The Crunch allowed fewer than 20 shots in a game once previously. Syracuse allowed 17 shots on net Feb 4 vs. Hartford. Kristers Gudlevskis earned the victory in both games.

Penalty kill kicks in gear

The Crunch have killed 20-straight penalties and have not allowed a power-play goal in five-consecutive games, both season highs. Before the five-game streak, Syracuse had held opponents' power plays off the board no more than two-straight games or 14 times shorthanded.

The Crunch's recent penalty-killing streak is the third time the last three seasons (since Tampa Bay became Syracuse's parent club prior to 2012-13) the Crunch have killed at least 20-straight penalties. The stretch is also the third time Syracuse has gone five games in a row without allowing a power-play marker. Last season, from Jan. 29-Feb. 8, 2014, Syracuse killed 21-straight penalties, including five-consecutive games without allowing a power-play goal. Syracuse's best penalty killing effort since the Tampa affiliation was a 23-for-23 effort from Nov. 2-17, 2012, including a five-game stretch without giving up a power-play goal. Syracuse has not gone more than five games without allowing a power-play tally the past three seasons.

The Crunch's penalty kill ranks 24th in the league, denying 81.1% of opponent chances, an improvement from 79.6% before the five-game run. Over the last nine games the Crunch PK is 36-for-40 (90.0%).

WEEK IN REVIEW

Game 62: Koekkoek heroics lift Crunch to overtime win vs. Pens

Slater Koekkoek's overtime goal propelled the Crunch past the Penguins, 2-1, at the War Memorial in the first game of a three-in-three. The season series ends with Syracuse collecting seven of eight points at 3-0-1-0.

After a bevy of Kristers Gudlevskis' overtime saves, Jonathan Marchessault picked up the puck, raced down the left wing and found Slater Koekkoek crashing the net. The rookie's fourth goal and first game-winner brought Marchessault's point total to 51 (17g, 34a), the highest on the Crunch.

Yanni Gourde opened the scoring with his 25th goal of the season midway through the second period. Justin Courtnall earned the primary assist, his first with the Crunch in four games. Jake Dotchin notched his 10th helper of the season. Gourde's goal was cancelled out when Derrick Pouliot set up Tom Kostopoulos who netted his 14th goal of the season in the third period during four-on-four action.

Gudlevskis stopped six shots in overtime and a total of 27 for his 21st win. The Crunch penalty kill was 1-for-1, extending their successful kill streak to 15.

Game 63: Comets survive Crunch, 4-2

Utica's three third-period goals were too much for the Crunch Saturday in at the War Memorial Arena. Syracuse lost 4-2 after winning its previous four games. Allen York made 33 saves in his first regulation loss (2-1-1).

Entering the final frame in a 1-1 tie, the Comets scored twice in a span of two minutes to grab and hold the lead. Former Crunch forward Cory Conacher netted the first third-period goal at 2:00, before 20-year-old Hunter Shinkaruk scored the eventual game-winner at 4:01, giving Utica a 3-1 lead.

Jonathan Marchessault sliced the lead to one after scoring his 18th goal of the season on the power play late in the third period. Tanner Richard and Dylan Blujus garnered assists, the second point for each in the game.

Sven Baertschi extended the Utica lead to 4-2 with an empty-net goal, his second marker of the game and fifth against Syracuse this season. The Crunch went 3-for-3 on the penalty kill, extending a season-long streak to 18.

Tanner Richard's second-period power-play goal snapped a streak of 11-straight penalty kills for the Comets.

Game 64: All-around effort powers 4-1 win in Springfield

Syracuse scored the first goal and the last three to defeat Springfield, 4-1, Sunday at MassMutual Center. The Crunch win extends their lead to seven points in the Northeast Division.

Justin Courtnall, Jonathan Marchessault, Yanni Gourde and Mike Angelidis recorded goals for Syracuse. Of the 10 Crunch players who recorded points, Dylan Blujus was the only one with more than one, assisting on the Courtnall and Marchessault goals. Blujus has four points in the last two games.

Kristers Gudlevskis stopped all but one of Springfield's 14 shots, the fewest for a Crunch opponent this season. The Falcons managed four in the first, two in the second and eight in the third. Gudlevskis' fourth win in a row give him 22 for the season in 36 appearances.

Courtnall's first-period goal earned him a third point in six games with the Crunch, while Jonathan Marchessault's second-period power-play goal earned him a 53rd point, the most on Syracuse and 10th in the AHL.

Yanni Gourde potted his team-leading 26th goal on the power play with helpers from Slater Koekkoekand Carter Ashton. Gourde's tally puts him third in the AHL in goals and tied for the conference lead. Angelidis capped the scoring, putting home a rebound near the end of the third period. Angelidis has 18 goals and 34 points to surpass his totals from last season.

Syracuse finished 2-for-6 on the power play and is 4-for-9 in the last two games. Syracuse's penalty kill stopped both Springfield chances and has stopped a season-high 20 opposing power plays in a row over a span of five games.

THE WEEK AHEAD

Crunch at Lehigh Valley- Wednesday, 7:05 p.m.

ESPN Radio 97.7 FM & 1200 AM, Syracuse; 100.1 FM & 1440 AM, Oswego

Syracuse faces off against Lehigh Valley for the final second and final time Wednesday at PPL Center. The Crunch won the previous meeting with the Phantoms Jan. 23 at the War Memorial, 4-2. Yanni Gourde scored twice, his fourth multi-goal game of the season and his lone multi-goal game of the calendar year. Friday marks the first trip for Syracuse to Lehigh Valley; the Phantoms relocated to Allentown, Pennsylvania, this year after five seasons in Glens Falls, New York.

Lehigh Valley comes into the week with 65 points, third in the East Division and 12th in the Eastern Conference. Philadelphia's AHL affiliate is 10 points back of a playoff spot with 13 games to play. Lehigh Valley has lost its last three games and was shut out at home for the first time Sunday vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Defenseman Brandon Manning leads active Lehigh Valley skaters in scoring with 43 points (11g, 32a). Manning ranks second among AHL defensemen in assists. The All-Star also ranks first in power-play points (25) and power-play assists (19) among defensemen. Nick Cousins lead all Phantom players with 55 points (21g, 34 a), but was called up to the Philadelphia Flyers March 15. Cousins is still tied for fifth in AHL scoring. Jason Akeson trails close behind Manning with 42 points (20g, 22a). The right-winger has zero points in the Phantoms' current three-game losing streak.

Rob Zepp and Anthony Stolarz handle the Lehigh Valley goaltending duties. Zepp (17-13-4) has totaled a 2.67 goals-against-average and a .915 save percentage in 36 games. In four NHL games with the Flyers he is 2-1 with a 2.84 goals-against-average and .886 save percentage. Stolarz (9-12-3) has earned a 3.18 goals-against-average and a .906 save percentage in 28 games this season. The Jackson, New Jersey native took the loss against Syracuse earlier this season, stopping 30 of 34 shots.

Crunch vs. Bridgeport- Friday, 7 p.m.

ESPN Radio 97.7 FM & 1200 AM, Syracuse; 100.1 FM & 1440 AM, Oswego

The Crunch welcomes in the Sound Tigers for just the second time this season Friday. Syracuse lost the lone meeting at the War Memorial, 2-1, in overtime Feb. 6. The Crunch are 1-2 overall against the Sound Tigers this season. The division foes will face off three more times after Friday night, twice in Syracuse.

Bridgeport comes into the week with 55 points, last in the Northeast Division and second to last in the Eastern Conference. The Sound Tigers have 11 road wins, third fewest in the AHL. Once best in the AHL, Bridgeport's power play has dipped to seventh in the league (18.9%) and is 3-for-19 versus Syracuse.

Dustin Jeffrey leads Bridgeport with 52 total points (21g, 31a). Jeffrey has 11 points (4g, 7a) in eight games with the Sound Tigers since being acquired from Utica March 2. He garnered a career-high four assists Sunday against Binghamton. Alan Quine ranks second on the team with 48 points (18g, 30a). Quine snapped a three-game points drought streak with two goals and an assist on Sunday. All-Star Ryan Pulock leads all AHL defensemen and rookies with 10 power play goals.

Since David Leggio was traded away on March 2, Kevin Poulin has assumed a heavier workload in goal. In six starts since, the Montreal native is 2-3-1, allowing 17 goals on 183 shots (.907). For the season, Poulin (16-17-7) owns a 2.78 goals-against-average and .915 save percentage in 34 games. Kent Simpson has taken over the back-up duties for the Sound Tigers. Simpson has played in just four games for Bridgeport and earned his first victory Friday in Springfield, stopping 32 of 33 shots.

Crunch vs. Rochester- Saturday, 7 p.m.

ESPN Radio 97.7 FM & 1200 AM, Syracuse; 100.1 FM & 1440 AM, Oswego | Time Warner Cable Sports Channel (Ch. 19)

Syracuse battles against Rochester for the final time this season Saturday at the War Memorial Arena. The Crunch are 4-3 against the Amerks this season. Syracuse defeated Rochester 6-4 in the last meeting at the War Memorial Jan. 30. Jonathan Marchessault had his second multi-goal effort of the season in the victory.

Rochester comes into the week with 56 points, last in the North Division and second to last in the Western Conference. The Amerks have lost four in a row and six of their last seven. Rochester has scored just six goals during its current four game slide. The Amerks haven't scored more than three goals in a game since they scored four against the Crunch and Andrei Vasilevskiy Feb. 25, 4-3, seven games ago.

Tim Schaller leads active Rochester skaters with 40 points (15g, 25a). The former Providence Friar is without points in four games, and has not scored since Feb. 13 (10 games). Chad Ruhwedel ranks second on the Amerks with 31 points (8g, 23a). The San Diego native also has no points in four games. Four of Rochester's top six scorers are currently with the Buffalo Sabres.

The goalie carousel has spun all season long for Rochester. Six different goalies have appeared in the Amerks net. Andrey Makarov (14-17-3) has been the mainstay, posting a 3.07 goals-against-average and a .899 save percentage in 36 games. No other goalie has appeared in more than 16 games for Rochester. Makarov has given up at least three goals in six of his last seven starts. Anthony Peters started his first game of the season Saturday in Toronto, stopping 26 of 28 shots in a losing effort. Peters notched a 2.30 goals-against-average and a .926 save percentage this year for St. Mary's University (Halifax, Nova Scotia).

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