SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Syracuse Crunch scored twice in just 12 seconds to open the game and maintained momentum for a 5-2 victory over the Binghamton Devils tonight at the Upstate Medical University Arena.
Cory Conacher led the Crunch with a two-goal performance, while Dennis Yan and Alex Barre-Boulet both tallied a goal and an assist each. The victory advances the Crunch to 16-12-2-0 on the season and 3-0-0-0 in the 10-game season series with the Devils.
Mike Condon earned his second win in his second start with the Crunch stopping 35-of-37 blank in net. Evan Cormier turned aside 16-of-20 between the pipes for the Devils. Syracuse was able to convert on 1-of-4 power play opportunities and went a perfect 6-for-6 on the penalty kill.
The Crunch opened scoring three minutes into the game and built a quick 2-0 lead with back-to-back goals just 12 seconds apart. At 3:08, Yan fired home a wrister from the left circle off assists from Nolan Valleau and Barre-Boulet. Seconds later, Barre-Boulet found the back of the net. Otto Somppi put on pressure at the end boards and worked the puck loose for Yan to grab and chip out front. Barre-Boulet was at the post to flip the puck up and over Cormier.
The Devils stole one back at 17:49. Mikhail Maltsev skated the puck into the zone and passed off for Ryan Schmelzer to go bar down from the top of the right circle.
Syracuse regained their two-goal lead with 1:06 remaining in the first period when Ross Colton wrapped around the back of the net and passed off for Conacher to send into an open backdoor. Boris Katchouk tallied the secondary helper.
Conacher potted his second of the night on the power play 3:10 into the middle stanza. Gemel Smith’s shot hit the post and dropped down behind Cormier where Conacher shoved it across the goal line. Cameron Gaunce earned a point on the play.
Schmelzer scored his second of the game three minutes later to pull the Devils back within two. After getting the puck from Maltsev, he drove down the left wing and scored short side as he cut towards the net.
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