Crunch close out 2016 with crazy game against St. John’s

by Kevin Erlendsson | @KErlendsson | Like us on Facebook
December 31, 2016

The Syracuse Crunch used a dominant first period to propel them to a victory over the St. John’s IceCaps, 7-5, and reclaim the top spot in the North Division.

Cory Conacher led the way offensively, notching two goals and two assists, while Jeremy Morin added two goals including the game-winner Erik Condra and Matt Taromina each registered a goal and two assists, and Mike Halmo added his ninth goal of the season.

Adam Wilcox made 11 saves on 16 shots to earn his 13th victory of the year, improving to a record of 13-5-2. Charlie Lindgren stopped 19 of 25 Crunch shots in the losing effort.

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The Crunch peppered the IceCaps’ netminder early, blitzing Lindgren for four goals in the span of 2:47. Taormina struck first, firing home a slapshot from the point on the power play just 7:29 into the first period. Just 55 seconds later, Halmo tipped in his ninth of the year to make it 2-0. A minute later, with Nikita Scherbak off for interference, the Crunch tallied another goal with the man advantage when Conacher one-timed Condra’s cross-ice feed. Morin finished the onslaught 42 seconds later, redirecting a pass from Luke Witkowski, increasing the lead to 4-0.

St. John’s rallied in the second half of the period, scoring three straight to close the period. Markus Eisenschmid got the IceCaps on the board, finishing on a short-handed with 6:36 left in the first. Jacob de la Rose then capitalized on the power play just 21 seconds later. The IceCaps’ captain found a loose puck in front of the net and snapped it home to cut the deficit to two.

The lead dwindled to one, when Mark MacMillan scored on a rebound attempt after Syracuse failed to clear the zone. St. John’s continued to apply the pressure but the Crunch were able to escape with a 4-3 lead.

Syracuse started the second like they started the first, with another power play goal, this time from Condra, 2:34 into the period. Morin added his second of the night just past the midway point to reestablish the Crunch’s three goal lead.

Yannick Veilleux got one back for the IceCaps a minute later, to make it 6-4, and de la Rose scored on the power play halfway through the third period to bring them within one.

That was as far as the IceCaps got, and Conacher sealed the victory with an empty-netter with 14 seconds left.

The win sees the Crunch leap-frog St. John’s in the standings, finishing 2016 at the top of the division with 38 points and two games in hand over the IceCaps. Syracuse does not play again until January 6th, where they will travel to Rochester to take on the Americans.

Game highlights from the Crunch

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