Syracuse Crunch return to winning ways at home against the Phantoms in 3-1 victory 

A month ago, the Syracuse Crunch sat atop the AHL’s North Division. But after a shaky 1-4 spell from late November to early December that included four losses on the road, Syracuse found themselves bumped down to third place in the division. 

On their return to Upstate Medical University Arena Friday night, the Crunch got back to winning ways, picking up a 3-1 victory over the Lehigh Valley Phantoms that bumped them up to second place in the North Division. The win was Syracuse’s first in the month of December. 

“I told the guys in the room, it’s about adversity,” Crunch head coach Joul Bouchard said after the game. “We’ve been on the road a lot, so I think it was nice to be back home.”

Right from the opening puck drop, it was clear that it was the Crunch’s night. Syracuse went on the powerplay just over two minutes into the game and immediately began peppering the Lehigh Valley goal with shots. Phantoms goaltender Aleksei Kolosov made some fantastic stops, including multiple big stretch saves, to keep the Crunch off the board. 

Both teams started the night 0-for-1 on the powerplay. By the end of the first period, Syracuse had accumulated 15 shots on goal, while the visitors had managed just one — a staggering statistic that accurately represented the Crunch’s dominance. 

“We missed a couple good chances in the first, so we knew it was gonna come. We just had to stay dialed,” said Crunch forward Jakob Pelletier. 

Eventually, the goal came. The hosts started the second period with one minute of a man advantage leftover from the previous period. They used it to their advantage, scoring their first powerplay goal in more than two games to break the deadlock. Conor Geekie lasered a one timer from the right wing circle towards the crease, where Dylan Duke redirected the puck into the back of the net. 

“We got to work hard on the power play. The last three games, we were kind of slow,” Syracuse’s leader in points, Jakob Pelletier said after the game. “Tonight we kind of moved the puck fast. That’s where we can catch teams and score goals.”

Later on in the period, Pelletier caught the Phantoms sleeping and scored a goal of his own. During a Lehigh Valley powerplay, Pelletier struck on the break, scoring a shorthanded goal that gave Syracuse a two goal advantage. 

“I think I was kind of ahead of the guys who were on the back check. So I was screaming for the puck the whole way. And as soon as he gave it to me, I knew I was going in the five hole,” said Pelletier. 

The goal was the Canadian’s 13th of the year, which leads the Crunch. 

Meanwhile, Lehigh Valley could not get anything going on the offensive end of the ice. More than halfway into the game, they had still managed only a single shot on goal. Syracuse completely dominated the puck and gave the visitors very few chances through the first two periods. 

The Crunch had two prime chances to put the game to bed on the powerplay in the middle part of the third period. But the Phantoms killed them both, keeping themselves in the game. Kolosov, the Belarusian goaltender, continued to make big stops for the visitors. He finished the game with 25 saves. 

The Phantoms picked up the pace as time wound down, firing 11 shots on goal in the final period of play. In his first ever start for the Crunch, Kevin Mandolese stood tall, saving 14 of 15 shots he saved. The former Ottawa Senators draft pick was awarded the second star of the game. 

Jacob Gaucher did sneak one by Mandolese in the closing stages of the game on a six versus four advantage to get the Phantoms on the board. But the powerplay goal was too little, too late for the visitors. Conor Geekie iced the game with an empty net goal to secure the 3-1 Crunch win. 

After Friday night’s victory, Syracuse is now undefeated in their last three games at home. They’ll have a chance to keep that streak going Saturday against the Hartford Wolfpack, when former Crunch players Derrick Pouliot and Daniel Walcott return to Upstate Medical University Arena for a reunion. 

“They’re both great guys. We love them a lot,” Bouchard said. “We know they’re going to be excited. You play your former team, it’s always something. But we’ll focus on our process and the job we get.”

Puckdrop between the Crunch and the Wolfpack is set for 7:00 p.m. Saturday night in Syracuse.