SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Syracuse Crunch scored three power-play goals as they topped the Rochester Americans, 4-1, tonight at Blue Cross Arena.
The win gives the Crunch four of a possible six points on the weekend’s three-in-three and moves the team back into a tie with Rochester for the North Division lead with 75 points. The Crunch are now 35-17-3-2 on the season and 4-3-1-1 in the 12-game series with the Amerks.
Goaltender Martin Ouellette recorded the win with 36 saves in net for the Crunch. Scott Wedgewood turned aside 23-of-26 between the pipes for the Amerks. Syracuse converted on 3-of-8 power play opportunities and went a perfect 5-for-5 on the penalty kill.
The Crunch opened scoring during 5-on-3 play 7:24 into the first period. Carter Verhaeghe dug the puck out from the end boards and passed it for Andy Andreoff to net while all alone in the bottom of the left circle. Cory Conacher tallied the secondary helper.
The Amerks evened the score 3:57 into the middle stanza. Alexander Nylander kept the puck in the zone at the blue line, skated to the top of the right circle and ripped a slap shot just under the crossbar. Matt Tennyson and Taylor Leier earned the assists.
Syracuse regained the lead two minutes later with another man-up goal. Verhaeghe found a lane for a cross-zone feed that set Alex Barre-Boulet up for a backdoor one-timer from the right circle. Conacher made it a multi-point game with the helper.
The Crunch power play connected for another goal at the 12-minute mark of the middle stanza. Ross Colton’s centering feed from below the goal line was broken up, but Mitchell Stephens got a stick on the loose puck and shoveled it in. Cal Foote recorded a point on the goal.
With 1:09 remaining in the game, Boris Katchouk potted an empty-netter with the help of Stephens to secure the win.
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