SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Syracuse Crunch fell to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, 4-1, tonight at the Upstate Medical University Arena.
Mitchell Chaffee scored the Crunch’s only goal as the team moves to 35-19-3-1 on the season. They won the four-game season series against the Phantoms, 3-1-0-0.
Crunch goaltender Ryan Fanti turned aside 16-of-19 shots. Aleksei Kolosov earned the win stopping 39-of-40 shots in net for the Phantoms. Both teams converted on 1-of-2 power play opportunities.
The Phantoms opened scoring 2:32 into the game when Tucker Robertson beat Fanti on a breakaway. They doubled their lead with a power-play goal five minutes later. Phil Tomasino set up Brett Harrison for a one-timer from the right circle. The Crunch stole one back with a power-play goal of their own at the 15:57 mark. Matthew Peca sent the puck towards the left faceoff dot for Chaffee to score with a one-timer.
Lehigh Valley regained their two-goal lead halfway through the third period. Fanti made the initial save, but the puck dropped down into the crease for Lane Pederson to chip in. Jacob Gaucher added an empty-net goal in the final minute of play to secure a Phantoms win.
The Crunch host the Laval Rocket tomorrow.
