Syracuse Crunch lose lopsided game for fourth loss in five games

The Belleville Senators returned to Salt City at Upstate Medical Arena to take on the homestanding Syracuse Crunch. The last time the Crunch faced the Senators at home, it was a tough 4-7 loss.  

This time it was the same but lower scoring story with the Crunch falling to the Senators 4 to 1. 

Goalie Ryan Fanti got the start for the game. Heading into the game in five games, Fanti has gone 4 and 1 with a .929 save percentage. In the game he let up 3 goals on just 14 shots. On the opposite side of the ice Senators goaltender Jackson Parsons gets only his second start of the season. He shined, stopping all but one of the Crunch’s 35 shots. 

The senators got the scoring going only 2 minutes into the first period with a goal from forward Mark Durate unassisted. Both teams got two attempts on the power play, but only the Senators were able to convert an opportunity. The Senators later opened up the game with another goal from forward Xavier Bourgault, assisted by forward Stephen Halliday and defensemen Carter Yakemchuck.

Just like its last matchup was a very chippy game with multiple players sent to the box for roughing. Major hits happened throughout the game with a common theme of helmets flying off players’ heads. Tensions exploded near the end of the second period where a fight broke out between Senators forward Landen Hookey and Crunch forward Lucas Mercuri with both receiving five minute fighting penalties. 

In the second not much went either teams’ way with no goals scored. It got started off by a continued Crunch power play that couldn’t convert. Ryan Fanti made a miraculous save near the end of the second to keep it a 2-goal game. The Crunch also had a great opportunity at the end of the period with a three on one breakaway but couldn’t bury the puck in the back of the net in the waning seconds. 

The Senators broke open the game early in the third. The Crunch then clawed back to within two after a Dylan Duke Power Play goal assisted by Mitchell Chaffee and Declan Carlile. They also left multiple golden scoring opportunities on the table. With the goalie pulled to try and tie the game up the Senators put the nail in the coffin getting the empty netter. 

After the game Mitchell Chaffee was asked about playing back-to-back games with no rest. 

“Obviously you know playing back-to-back. You’re always tired. That’s how it is. But there’s no excuses…you got to dig deep and be able to, you know, pull out a win.”  Chaffee said.

Following the loss the Crunch is set to travel to the Laval Rockets on Wednesday at 7 p.m.