Admirals Game Results

Volkov Scores First Pro Goal, But Crunch Fall to Marlies

25 weeks 21 hours ago

By Jeremy Houghtaling

Alexander Volkov received the drop pass and quickly fired it from the top of the right wing circle past Garrett Sparks.

The rookie’s first professional goal brought the Crunch to within one midway through the second period but the Marlies goalie finished with 29 saves, as Syracuse was topped by Toronto, 4-2, at the Onondaga County War Memorial Friday.

“I scored my first goal, but I’m not happy because my team lost the game,” Volkov said. “I scored a goal, but it’s a bonus for me.”
AHL Game Night: 10-27-17 Marlies at Crunch

25 weeks 22 hours ago

Young Crunch's growing pains continue.

TOR-4
SYR-2

Connor Ingram allowed 2 goals on 5 shots before giving way to veteran Michael Leighton who allowed 1 goal on 19 shots for the dreaded backdoor loss.

First Period
0:48 SYR Stephens (2), (Yan, Cernak)
4:21 TOR Aaltonen (1), (unassisted)
10:27 TOR Greening (2), (Dermott, Liljegren)

Second Period
3:28 TOR Greening (3), (Mueller, Timashov)
8:57 SYR Volkov (1), (Erne)

Third Period
17:26 TOR Johnsson (3), (Smith, Rosen)

Alexander Volkov was the game's second star after scoring his first pro goal.

Maybe it shouldn't be surprising the Crunch have struggled to produce wins with the amount of roster turnover that happened over the offseason and the number of veterans that have been replaced by rookie pros. That doesn't make it sting any less, though.

Box score from TheAHL.com.
AHL Game Night: 10-21-17 Thunderbirds at Crunch

25 weeks 6 days ago

Crunch finally break through with a big win.

SPR-1
SYR-4

Connor Ingram allowed 1 goal on 23 shots for the victory. He played well in relief against the Devils and followed it up with another solid effort.

1st
17:45 SYR McGinn (2), (Conacher, Lynch)

Second Period
14:44 SYR Akeson (1), (Erne)

Third Period
3:19 SYR Bournival (2), (Erne, Masin)
4:42 SPR Valk (1), (Hawryluk, Wittchow)(PP)
19:57 SYR Bournival (3), (Lynch, Cirelli)(EN)

Ingram, Jason Akeson, and Adam Erne were the game's three stars.

After a healthy dose of one goal losses, the Crunch finally picked themselves off the mat against the 0-6-0 Thunderbirds. Is the win impressive given the quality of opponent? Who cares. It was necessary, and the team got it.

Box score from TheAHL.com.
Crunch Thump Winless Thunderbirds

25 weeks 6 days ago

By Jeremy Houghtaling

Syracuse Crunch head coach Benoit Groulx believes his team took a big step forward.

The Crunch created significantly more scoring chances and held the Thunderbirds off the board until the third period, as Syracuse beat winless Springfield 4-1 at the Onondaga County War Memorial Saturday.

“I thought tonight was pretty good. We were a second effort hockey club,” Groulx said. “Many blocked shots by many different players. They’re driving the net. That demands a second effort. I thought we played well in the three zones and we moved the puck quick.

“They had a push late in the game, but overall I thought we controlled that game pretty well.”
AHL Game Night: 10-20-17 Devils at Crunch

26 weeks 21 hours ago

The struggle continues.

BNG-3
SYR-2

Michael Leighton allowed 2 goals on 2 shots before being lifted quickly in the First Period. Connor Ingram allowed 1 goal on 20 shots for the injustice of the backdoor loss.

First Period
0:11 BNG Quenneville (4), (Bastian, Strait)
3:57 BNG Speers (1), (Pietila, Rooney)
11:49 BNG Lappin (4), (Erixon, Kapla)

Second Period
11:54 SYR Bournival (1), (unassisted)(SH)
13:26 SYR Cernak (2), (Bodie)(SH)

Third Period
NO SCORING

Michael Bournival and Erik Cernak were the game's second and third stars.

Syracuse sits alone in the North Division basement at a dismal 1-4-1-0. That said, they've only really been run off the rink in one of the losses (against the Penguins) and there's probably an alternate dimension where Syracuse could just as easily be 4-1-1-0. There's no such thing as moral victories, though, and Syracuse needs to figure out how to get on the right side of these 1 goal decisions quickly.

Box score from TheAHL.com.
PK Provides Spark, But Crunch Can't Overcome Rough Start vs. Devils

26 weeks 21 hours ago

By Jeremy Houghtaling

The Syracuse Crunch’s penalty kill provided a spark in the second period, but it wasn’t enough to overcome a rough start.

Syracuse allowed goals on the first two shots and trailed 3-0 after the first 20 minutes. The Crunch netted a pair of shorthanded markers on the same penalty, but their rally came up short in a 3-2 loss to the Binghamton Devils at the Onondaga County War Memorial Friday.

“Obviously, when you have a rough start like we did tonight, you only can get better,” Crunch head coach Benoit Groulx said. “When you’re down 3-0 after the first period, you have a choice. You battle back or you quit. I like the fact tonight we battled back. We had our chances. We manufactured more chances on the power play. Their goalie was good and they blocked shots.

“Other than the first period, I thought we got much better. It’s a work in progress I guess.”
AHL Game Day: 10-15-17 Crunch at Penguins

26 weeks 5 days ago

Crushing road loss caps unsuccessful weekend for Syracuse.

SYR-1
WBS- 6

Connor Ingram allowed 6 goals on 31 shots for the defeat. Welcome to the AHL.

First Period
0:34 WBS Dea (2), (Bengtsson)

Second Period
1:16 WBS Wilson (2), (Sprong, Quinney)
4:16 WBS DiPauli (2), (Blueger, Sestito)
12:04 SYR Conacher (3), (McBain, Joseph)(PP)
16:59 WBS Thomas (1), (Trotman, Kostopoulos)(PP)

Third Period
9:47 WBS Sprong (4), (Quinney, Corrado)
14:42 WBS Quinney (1), (Sprong)

Well, at least Mathieu Joseph got his first pro point.

Box score from TheAHL.com.
Crunch Lose Special Teams Battle to Comets

26 weeks 6 days ago

By Jeremy Houghtaling

The Syracuse Crunch lost the special teams battle.

The Crunch finished the night 0-for-5 with the man-advantage and allowed a pair of Comets power play goals, as Syracuse fell to Utica, 3-2, at the Onondaga County War Memorial Saturday.

“They were the best team in the first period. We got better as the game went along,” Crunch head coach Benoit Groulx said. “Overall, I think your best players are playing on specialty teams, and I think their best players were better than ours today.”
AHL Game Night: 10-14-17 Comets at Crunch

26 weeks 6 days ago

Crunch drop another tightly fought battle.

UTI-3
SYR-2

Michael Leighton allowed 3 goals on 19 shots as the Comets overcame a 26-19 shot disparity to pull out the win.

First Period
7:57 UTI Goldobin (3), (Boucher, Holm)
19:14 SYR Conacher (2), (Bodie, Cirelli)

Second Period
12:41 UTI Holm (1), (Bancks, Goldobin)(PP)

Third Period
3:22 SYR Cernak (1), (Stephens, Walcott)
6:38 UTI Chaput (1), (McEneny, Holm)(PP)

Mitchell Stephens was the game's second star. He assisted on Erik Cernak's first professional goal in the defeat.

Box score from TheAHL.com.
Yan Scores First Pro Goals, Crunch Beat Senators

27 weeks 21 hours ago

By Jeremy Houghtaling

Dennis Yan hit a career milestone, but was more concerned with the final result.

The Crunch rookie netted his first professional goal in the second period and added the eventual game-winner early in the third, as Syracuse beat the Belleville Senators, 4-2, at the Onondaga County War Memorial Friday.

“Of course it feels good, but I’m really happy we got the first win of the season because we started with two losses,” Yan said. “So I’m happy for the guys. The first win is important and we still have two games this weekend, so it’s pretty good to have the first win this weekend.”