Syracuse Crunch falls in hard-fought loss to Toronto

The Crunch entered the second half of a back-to-back series at Upstate Medical Arena after a 5-1 win over the Utica Comets on Saturday. The Crunch did not keep the win-streak alive, falling to the Toronto Marlies 4-1 on Sunday. 

The Crunch have dealt with multiple roster changes over the past week as three players, including top prospect Conor Geekie were sent back and forth from the Crunch to the Lightning.

Within the first two minutes of the game, the Marlies were given a delay of the game penalty. The Crunch took advantage of the power play with a shot from forward Jakob Pelletier, tipped in by forward Dylan Duke. 

The Crunch nearly had another phenomenal chance but could not bury the puck in the back of the net. The Marlies tied it up on a two-on-one with the goal by defenseman Chas Sharpe, assisted by forward Brandon Baddock and forward Marc Johnstone. 

A misplayed puck led to another two-on-one opportunity for the Marlies, which tied the game at 2-1. The goal came from forward Alex Nylander, assisted by forwards Mathew Barbolini and Miroslav Holinka. 

The Crunch had a chance to tie it up with three minutes left. A big hit shortly afterward by Marlie’s defensemen, Henry Thrun, was assessed a cross-checking penalty, which led to Dylan Duke standing up for his teammate and also being sent to the box for roughing. 

The Marlies went shorthanded after a hooking penalty and nearly nabbed a solo shorthanded goal, but a big save from Brandon Halverson ended the period with the Crunch just down by 1.

The Crunch would carry the Power Play into the second period but failed to convert. Tensions were heightened as another scuffle ensued, but no one was sent to the box. It was clear that the second period marked a much more physical game, established by back-to-back big hits that left some players struggling to get off the ice. The game would remain goalless for about half the period. The Crunch nearly had another good chance as it looked like the puck crossed the goal line under Dennis Hildeby’s pads, but it just didn’t sneak through. The Marlies nearly had another chance of their own to add to the lead with a breakaway attempt, but the Crunch defense negated the chance to keep it a one-goal deficit heading into the final frame.

At the beginning of the third, the Crunch had a chance right in front of the net but couldn’t get it past Hildeby in close quarters. A roughing penalty by Crunch defenseman Jarred Tinordi gave the Marlies a power play and they had nearly converted on it, but the Crunch were able to kill it off. 

Almost immediately after killing off the penalty, they surrendered a goal from forward Borya Valis, assisted by Barbolini and Nylander. The Marlies’ aggressive forecheck continued to keep the Crunch pinned outside the offensive side of the ice. Even when the Crunch made it into the offensive zone, they didn’t have any sustained success. The Crunch would pull the goalie for an additional attacker, but Marlie forward Nylander got the empty-netter to seal the game at 4-1. 

“One of the things we just need to clean up is puck management,” head coach Joel Bouchard said. 

The Crunch have two more games remaining against the Belleville Senators on Friday and Saturday to finish out the season before they head to the second round of the Calder Cup Playoffs in May.