By Michael Wax
Another two-game week, another split for the Crunch. After a 4–2 win against the Laval Rocket on Friday, Jan. 26, the Crunch fell 3-1 to the Utica Comets on Saturday, Jan. 27.
Syracuse is currently 23-13-2-2, two points behind the Cleveland Monsters for first place in the north division and six points ahead of the Laval Rocket for third.
Before we get into what we saw this week, here is some admin:
D Phil Myers was re-assigned from the Lightning to the Crunch on Wednesday
F Mitchell Chaffee was recalled from the Crunch on Wednesday. Chaffee would play in both games for the Lightning before the All-Star break, recording his first NHL goal in Thursday's win over Arizona
D Ryan Orgel and Patrick Kudla were released from their PTOs on Thursday
F Waltteri Merelä, F Mitchell Chaffee, and D Max Crozier were reassigned to the Crunch on Saturday. These moves were a result of Tampa's 10-day break, giving the three playing time in the AHL
D Cole Moberg was released from his PTO on Saturday
F Bennett MacArthur was re-assigned to the ECHL's Allen Americans
The Crunch played their 2,250th game as a franchise in the same weekend that the AHL celebrated 50,000 games
Here are three things we noticed over this week's games from the Crunch:
Home Sweet Home
The Crunch have played very well this season, as a whole. But, as with any team, the home record is something to behold, whereas the road record can leave a lot to be desired. The Lightning's affiliate has a 12-5-2-1 record (27 points, best in the North) at home, compared to a road record of 11-8-0-1 (23 points). In their 4-2 win over Laval, they showed exactly why the Upstate Medical University Arena is one of the best home arenas in the AHL.
Less than two minutes in, the Crunch put on a passing clinic to take the lead. Entering the zone, Jack Thompson gave the puck over to Joe Carroll, who immediately one-touched the puck over to Felix Robert for the wide-open one-timer and 1-0 lead.
Syracuse would double their lead later in the frame on a breakaway from Gabe Fortier, snapping off a quick wrist shot before the Rocket defense could get to him:
Finally, Sean Day scored a goal in his second consecutive game, continuing his offensive resurgence recently. Day used speed to get to the outside and quick hands as he drove to the net:
This offense, coupled with Hugo Alnefelt's 29-save effort and fourth consecutive win, gave the Crunch a 5-1-0-0 homestand.
Day's Over
The GWG in the Comet's win over the Crunch is one Sean Day would like to forget.
With less than 12 minutes left in the third in a 1-1 game, Day was starting the breakout for the Crunch. However, with the Comets hounding the puck and forcing Day to make a move, he went for a spin and then went for a spill. Because Phil Myers was going for a change and Day had lost his stick, the Comets' Graeme Clarke had all the time in the world to skate in and beat Matt Tomkins to the blocker side.
Something about the Crunch playing the Comets this season has caused the Crunch to make some insane mistakes. After all, this is the same team that Syracuse tried a 6-on-3 power play against, which went poorly.
Utica and Syracuse are tied at five wins apiece in the rivalry this season, with four games to go. It's not a great look, seeing as the Comets and Crunch are separated by over 10 points.
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