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AHL Syracuse Crunch

Wolf Pack Snipes Syracuse In Overtime, 3-2

January 10, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Syracuse Crunch News Release


HARTFORD, Conn. - After trailing 2-0 in the second period, the Syracuse Crunch (22-9-5-0) stormed back to force overtime Friday against the Hartford Wolf Pack (19-12-2-2), but Dylan McIlrath won it for Hartford in the extra session by chipping a rebound past Andrei Vasilevskiy.

Less than three minutes into overtime, a stretching save by Vasilevskiy stopped a Marek Hrivik bid from crossing the goal line, but in sweeping the loose puck away from the crease he delivered the puck to McIlrath in front. The defenseman scored his first goal of the year in his 34th game, his first career overtime marker, into the top left corner to give the Wolf Pack their second win in five meetings with Syracuse.

The Crunch failed to score on two early power-play opportunities, but Chris Bourque took advantage of a 5-on-3 advantage for Hartford. His seventh power-play goal of the year, and team-leading 31st point, gave Hartford a 1-0 lead at the 12-minute mark of the first, with Mike Kostka and Oscar Lindberg assisting.

Shawn O'Donnell carried the momentum into the second period for Hartford and increased the lead to 2-0, tipping in a rebound that careened off the right leg of Vasilevskiy and defenseman Matt Corrente. Chad Nehring and Steve Spinell provided assists at 2:58 of the middle frame. Seconds later Eric Neilson fought Nick Tarnasky, and later in the frame O'Donnell fought Mike Angelidis

Henri Ikonen halved the two-goal deficit with a score at 3:56 of the second period on the rush. Joel Vermin entered the zone from the left-wing side and fed Ikonen down the slot for the glove-side rip. Iknonen's third of the year was his first since Dec. 12, while the assist for Vermin was his first point since Dec. 19. Mike Angelidis contributed the secondary assist, his 19th point (12g, 7a) this season.

Empty-handed in their first four power-play opportunities, Dylan Blujus converted on the team's fifth chance, blasting his first career goal from the left-wing circle at 3:58 of the third period to tie the game, 2-2, Vladislav Namestnikov recorded the lone assist, his 16th point in 15 games with Syracuse.

Despite two more power plays, Syracuse could not find the go-ahead goal and finished 1-for-8 on the man advntage; Hartford was 1-for-5.

Veteran Yann Denis, signed by Hartford to a professional tryout Jan. 1, made his Wolf Pack debut and stopped 24 of 26 shots. His started the year in Norfolk, posting two shutouts in 11 games (5-6-0). Vasilevskiy finished with 33 saves and suffered his fifth overtime loss, tied for most in the AHL (Jussi Rynnas, Texas) and drops to 10-3-5.

The Crunch play at the War Memorial for the first time in 2015 Saturday, meeting W-B/Scranton for the third time. The Crunch lost in Wilkes-Barre Nov. 9, 3-2, and won there six days later, 5-4.

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