SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Luke Witkowski recorded his first career two-goal game as the Syracuse Crunch tamed the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, 5-2, to sweep the two-game season series tonight at the War Memorial Arena.
Witkowski notched goals two and three on the season, while Yanni Gourde added a pair of goals for the first time this year. Jeff Tambellini also contributed to scoring, netting his 19th, to help the Crunch extend the win streak to three. The team now sits at 25-23-9-3. The Sound Tigers are 31-23-3-3.
Crunch goaltender Adam Wilcox earned his fourth win in five starts, turning aside 25 of 27 shots on goal. Sound Tigers netminder Christopher Gibson stopped 27 in defeat. Syracuse was unable to convert on the power play and shut down both Bridgeport man-advantages.
Witkowski opened scoring with an unassisted goal from the blue line halfway through the first period. Thirty-four seconds later, the Crunch built up a two-goal lead. Jeff Tambellini fired a wrist shot top shelf from the right circle. Joel Vermin and Jake Dotchin assisted on the tally.
The Sound Tigers solved Wilcox with 18 seconds remaining in the first period. Bracken Kearns crashed the net from the left circle and slid one through to put the Sound Tigers on the board.
At the 11:14 mark of the middle frame, Witkowski netted his second of the game. Jonathon Drouin took a shot from the left circle that was stopped by Gibson. The rebound kicked out to the crease for the defenseman to send home. Matthew Peca picked up the secondary assist.
With 5:37 remaining in the last period, Gourde built up a three-goal lead for the Crunch. Tanner Richard carried the puck down the right wing side on an odd-man rush before sending it over for Gourde to redirect past the goaltender. Matt Taormina grabbed a point on the play. Four minutes later, the Sound Tigers stole one back when Tanner Fritz found the back of the net with the help of Alan Quine and Matt Finn.
The late push was not enough for Bridgeport to comeback and Syracuse solidified a 5-2 victory with Gourde’s empty net tally assisted by Richard late in the third.
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