SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Syracuse Crunch exploded for a four-goal second period in the 6-2 victory over the St. John’s IceCaps tonight at the War Memorial Arena.
Five Crunch players tallied a multi-point game in the win. Yanni Gourde led the team with two goals and an assist on the night, while Jonathan Drouin also added two markers. Tanner Richard contributed a goal and two assists and Jeff Tambellini tallied one of each. Anthony DeAngelo recorded his first professional three-point game with three helpers.
Tonight’s victory advances the Crunch to 27-25-10-3 on the season and completes an eight-game series between Syracuse and St. John’s. The IceCaps edged the Crunch, taking the series, 5-2-1-0.
Crunch goaltender Kristers Gudlevskis earned back-to-back wins against the IceCaps with 22 saves. Zachary Fucale stopped 18 of 24 before being relieved by Eddie Pasquale to start the third period. Pasquale went on to turn aside all four shots he faced. The Syracuse power play was highly effective, converting on 3 of 5 chances. The penalty kill unit stopped 3 of 4.
The IceCaps took an early lead just 1:23 into the contest. Charles Hudon put St. John’s on the board during an odd-man rush. Bud Holloway and Mark MacMillan grabbed points on the opening tally.
At the 7:10 mark, Syracuse kick started a five-goal scoring binge. Gourde evened the game up by redirecting Dylan Blujus’ shot from the blue line. Richard earned his first point of the night on the equalizer. With 5:35 remaining in the opening frame, the Crunch struck on the power play to take the lead. DeAngelo slid a pass for Tambellini to net from the left point. Gourde recorded the secondary helper.
Halfway through the middle stanza, Richard one-timed a rocket from the right circle off assists from DeAngelo and Tambellini to build a two-goal lead on the man-advantage. At 10:46, Gourde received the puck from Slater Koekkoek and flew down the ice to net his second of the game on the breakaway. Syracuse built on the momentum and potted their fifth consecutive goal two minutes later. DeAngelo’s shot deflected off the goal post and onto Drouin’s stick. He carried the puck around the back of the net and jammed in the wraparound. The secondary assist went to Richard.
Hudon finally broke up the Crunch’s scoring at 14:49 when he scored his second of the night with the man-advantage and help of Morgan Ellis and Holloway. However, Syracuse stole it back with 15 seconds remaining in the period. Drouin sped down the right wing side and powered a wrist shot from the circle to make it 6-2 on the power play. DeAngelo and Richard earned their third points of the game with the assists.
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