SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Syracuse Crunch were bested by the Toronto Marlies, 6-5, in a shootout tonight at the Upstate Medical University Arena.
The Crunch dropped both weekend games to the Marlies and move to 38-23-4-4 on the season. They finish the eight-game season series against Toronto at 6-0-0-2.
Crunch goaltender Hugo Alnefelt turned aside 14-of-19 shots before being relieved by Brandon Halverson late in the second period. Halverson went on to turn aside all 12 shots he faced and 1-of-2 shootout attempts. Matt Murray stopped 22-of-27 in net for the Marlies and all three shootout attempts. Syracuse converted on three of their seven power play opportunities, while the penalty kill went a perfect 2-for-2.
The Marlies were first on the board 1:41 into the game when Alex Steeves sped down the right wing and scored with a close-range shot. Logan Shaw doubled the lead just 1:44 later off a wrister from the right circle. The Crunch stole one back with a 2-on-1 rush at the 5:03 mark. Ilya Usau carried the puck into the zone and passed over Alex Barre-Boulet on the left wing. He drew Murray out of position and left the net wide open for Usau to score on the return feed. At 14:42, Syracuse knotted the score, 2-2. Waltteri Merelä was in the slot to redirect Max Crozier’s point shot while on the man-advantage. Toronto added one more late in the period to regain their lead when Cameron Gaunce sent in a rebound during a scramble down low.
The Crunch added another power-play tally in the middle frame to tie the game for a second time. Gage Goncalves went top shelf from the left circle to make it a 3-3 game at the 9:34. Toronto quickly responded and potted two goals just 2:28 apart to go back on top. The first was at the 11:47 mark when Nick Abruzzese fired a shot that was stopped, but he continued towards the net and jammed in his own rebound. Steeves then scored his second of the game when he sent in a centering pass as he came down the slot. Crozier pulled the Crunch back within one late in the frame off a one-timer from the left point for the team’s third power-play goal of the night.
Syracuse knotted the score, 5-5, 4:25 into the final frame to eventually force overtime. Quinn Schmiemann got the puck at the left point and beat Murray with a low shot.
After a scoreless overtime frame, the game went to a shootout where Shaw scored the only goal in the second round to give Toronto the win.
The Crunch travel to face the Belleville Senators on Wednesday.
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