Crunch fall in Hershey despite strong play

by Erik Erlendsson | @Erik_Erlendsson | Like us on Facebook
December 4, 2016

Syracuse Crunch head coach Benoit Groulx could have been proud of the effort put forth by his team on Sunday.

Syracuse played a home game on Saturday night and had to bus down to Hershey for a late afternoon start in Chocolate Town. It could have been understandable for the Crunch to show fatigue and play.like a tired team.

Instead, Syracuse went out and dominated the game in every fashion except one – the scoreboard.

Despite 37-13 advantage in shots, Syracuse fell 4-2 at Giant Center

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Hershey took a 1-0 lead with 4:58 left in the first period in a relatively even-played opening frame.

But Syracuse started to take over the game from a territorial aspect in the second period, outshooting the Bears 12-5. But the Crunch were unable to solve Hershey goaltender Joe Cannata and trailed 1-0 heading in to the third period.

The deficit quickly became two goals 23 seconds in to the third period on a goal from Garrett Mitchell.

The Crunch would come roaring back, however, with a pair of power play goals 90 seconds apart to tie the game. Cory Conacher scored at 3:38 while Yanni Gourde knotted the game up at 5:08, a play started by goaltender Kristers Gudlevskis, who picked up his fourth career assist.

But Syracuse was unable to build on the momentum and take the lead despite 17 shots on goal in the third period.

Aaron Ness would put Hershey in front with 1:29 left on the Bears third-shot of the period before adding an empty net goal with 23 seconds left.

Gudlevskis would take the loss after stopping just nine of 12 shots he faced as Syracuse saw its streak of games with a point end at five.

The Crunch are off until Wednesday when they host Lehigh Valley.

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