SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Brett Howden scored his first professional goal to lift the Syracuse Crunch over the Albany Devils, 3-2, tonight at the War Memorial Arena.
The Devils opened scoring in the second period before Tanner Richard and Dominik Masin helped the Crunch take over the lead halfway through the frame. Albany went on to tie the game up, but Howden eventually found the back of the net for the game-winner to advance Syracuse to 35-24-7-7 on the season. The Crunch finished the eight-game season series against the Devils at 4-3-1-0.
Kristers Gudlevskis earned the win turning aside 24-of-26 shots on goal between the pipes for the Crunch. Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 29-of-32 for the Devils. Syracuse was able to convert on 1-of-6 power play opportunities and shut down 3-of-4 Albany man-advantages.
After a scoreless first period, the Devils lit the lamp first with a power-play marker 5:20 into the middle frame. Yohann Auvitu netted a slap shot from the high slot off assists from John Quenneville and Carter Camper.
The Crunch evened the score with a shorthanded tally halfway through the second. Richard carried the puck across the blue line and passed it over for John Kurtz at the right boards. His shot was blocked, but Richard was there to cut across the slot and easily potted the rebound.
With 2:46 remaining in the period, Syracuse took over the lead. Masin was able to get a stick on the puck during a battle in front of the net and chipped it in. Erik Condra and Matthew Peca earned points on the go-ahead goal.
Before the second period came to a close, the Devils knotted the score, 2-2, with a shorthanded marker of their own. Brian Gibbons sped down the right-wing side on a breakaway that was stopped by Gudlevskis. The rebound ended up in the slot for Kevin Rooney to clean up.
Howden netted the game-winner on the power play with 3:22 remaining in the game. Richard ripped a shot from the right circle that redirected off Howden’s stick and past Blackwood. Adam Comrie earned the secondary helper.
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