JOHN’S, NEWFOUNDLAND – Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond and Adam Comrie both scored their first of the season as the Syracuse Crunch fell to the St. John’s IceCaps, 3-2, in a shootout tonight at the Mile One Centre.
The loss pushes the Crunch to 11-5-0-2 and snaps a three-game win streak. Despite the loss, the Crunch pick up one point and maintain their lead of the North Division with a .667 points percentage.
Kristers Gudlevskis recorded the loss turning aside 28 shots for the Crunch and allowing two goals on two shootout attempts. Yann Danis made 26 saves for the IceCaps and stopped both shootout attempts. Syracuse was unable to convert on three power-play opportunities, but shut down both St. John’s man-advantages.
Three minutes into the game, the Crunch scored first. Henri Ikonen threw the puck on net, but it was stopped. The rebound dropped down where Letourneau-Leblond was able to jam it in during a scuffle in front of the cage. Brian Hart earned the secondary assist.
The IceCaps tied the game with 3:18 remaining in the second period. After receiving the puck from Sven Andrighetto in the left circle, Nikita Scherbak stopped and fired over Gudlevskis’s glove to put the team on the board. Markus Eisenschmid tallied the secondary helper on the equalizer.
With just one second remaining in the second period, the IceCaps took over the lead. Scherbak sent a centering pass from the left wing boards for Eisenschmid to redirect into the net. Andrighetto picked up an assist on the last second marker.
The Crunch tied the game for a second time five minutes into the final frame. Comrie ripped a slap shot from the left point for his first of the season. Helpers went to Jeremy Morin and Daniel Walcott.
The teams remained knotted through regulation and the overtime period. The IceCaps eventually took the win when Audette and Andrighetto both scored in the shootout, while the Crunch went 0-for-2. The teams now split the eight-game season series, 1-1.
You must be logged in to post a comment.