The Crunch improved to 8-2-0-0 on the season and 2-1-0-0 in the 12-game season series with the Americans. Wojciech Stachowiak led Syracuse scorers with two goals and an assist, Max Groshev three helpers added while Dylan Duke And Scott Sabourin also carved multi-point onions.
Ryan Fanti stopped the Crunch to victory, putting aside 33 of 36 shots. Devon Levi ended 24-of-29 for the Americans. Syracuse’s power play converted into 2 of 3 opportunities, while Rochester scored on 1 of 6 man advantages.
The Crunch were first on the board just 38 seconds into the opening frame, after an icing call against Rochester led to an offensive zone faceoff for Syracuse. Devon Levi made the first save on a shot from Tommy Miller from the right point Wojciech Stachowiak grabbed the rebound and hammered it home. The Americans tied the score around 6:06 when Viktor Neuchev made a drop pass to Jake Leschyshyn, who sent the ball in from the slot. Stachowiak added his second goal of the night to give the Crunch a 2-1 lead on the power play. He sent a wrister from the left dot that bounced off Levi’s pad.
Dylan Duke extended the Crunch lead 3-1 six minutes into the second period. Nick Abruzzese had a breakaway and a shot that was saved by Levi, but Duke was behind the play and potted the rebound. Twelve minutes into the second period Scott Sabourin tapped the puck in while on the man advantage to put Syracuse ahead, 4-1. Stachowiak shot in from the left circle, which deflected off Sabourin as he fell to the ice.
The Americans mounted a comeback in the third period with two goals in the first seven minutes of the final frame. Leschyshyn scored his second goal of the game on the power play, redirecting the puck again while it was in the air in front of the net. Zach Metsa then brought the score to within one, 4-3, with a snap from the right circle from the striker. Dylan Duke added insurance for Syracuse with 4:36 to play when he sent a shot in from the far side of the left circle and over Levi’s shoulder.
Next, the Crunch travel to Charlotte for a pair of games on Friday and Saturday.
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