AHL Syracuse Crunch

Vasilevskiy Backstops Syracuse to Shootout

January 2, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Syracuse Crunch News Release


ALBANY, N.Y. - Behind 35 saves from Andrei Vasilevskiy, the Syracuse Crunch defeated the Albany Devils, 2-1, Friday in a shootout at Times Union Center. The victory snaps a three-game skid for the Crunch and puts them into a points tie with Springfield atop the Northeast Division.

Kevin Lynch scored the only goal of the shootout, breaking a tie after nine scoreless rounds. Lynch, on his first AHL attempt, skated wide left on Devils goalie Scott Wedgewood, cut in front and tucked the puck below Wedgewood's pads on the backhand. Vasilevskiy denied all 10 Albany shooters, including defenseman Brandon Burlon in the bottom of the tenth to end the game.

Syracuse snatched a 1-0 lead at 8:09 of the first period. Vladislav Namestnikov scored from the right wing on a two-on-one opportunity with Dalton Smith. Jonathan Marchessault had the primary assist, and Joey Mormina had the secondary helper. Namestnikov's seventh goal with the Crunch in 13 games is his team-leading third against Albany. Marchessault leads the Crunch with 21 assists and 29 points.

Devils forward Ben Thomson scored his fourth of the season to even the score 2:31 later. He deflected a Burlon right-point shot past Vasilevskiy. Paul Thompson notched the second assist.

Vasilevskiy, making at least 30 saves for the third Crunch game in a row, earned his sixth win in seven decisions and improved to 10-3-4 with a 2.25 goals-against average and .923 save percentage. Vasilevskiy, assigned to Syracuse from Tampa Bay Thursday, was named the CCM/AHL Goalie of the Month for December earlier Friday having allowed six goals in five games, winning four times with two shutouts.

Vasilevskiy kept the Devils at bay in the second and third periods, including a three-on-one glove save on Burlon with 11 minutes remaining. In overtime, Vasilevskiy traded stunning saves with Wedgewood, who denied Namestnikov with a poke check during the extra frame and totaled 24 saves.

The Crunch have won all four matchups with Albany this season, twice in shootouts. Each game has been decided by one goal. The Devils dropped to 0-5 in shootouts while the Crunch improved to 2-0.

Syracuse continues a stretch of five-consecutive road games Saturday in Binghamton at 7:05 p.m.

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