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Syracuse Crunch

Undisciplined play burns Syracuse Crunch in loss at Toronto

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by Steven DiOssi | @StevenDiOssi | Like us on Facebook
February 5, 2017

The Syracuse Crunch fell to the Toronto Marlies 3-2 in a matinee rematch between the clubs at Ricoh Coliseum on Sunday.

The Crunch fell behind 3-0 entering the third period and received goals from Tanner Richard and Adam Comrie but were unable to score the equalizer and dropped to 23-14-4-5 on the season. They continue to hold first place in the North Division with 54 points through 46 regular season contests.

Cory Conacher paced the Crunch in scoring for the second straight game, tallying two assists and extending his league-leading road points scoring streak to nine games — he’s registered three goals and nine assists during that span.

Adam Wilcox received the call between the pipes for the second straight game and turned aside 25 shots, while Marlies goaltender Garrett Sparks also made 25 saves. The teams combined for 20 power plays and 76 penalty minutes in the contest, with the Crunch going 1-for-9 with the man advantage and limiting the Marlies to 2-for-11 on the afternoon.

The Marlies opened the scoring when they capitalized on a 5-on-3 at 9:44 of the first period. The Crunch were called for too many men on the ice at 7:53 and Yanni Gourde was whistled for interference just nine seconds later, setting up Toronto’s two-man advantage. Dmytro Timashov fired a shot on goal that hit the post and landed on the side of the crease. Seth Griffin controlled the rebound and fed it back to Byron Froese who shot it past Wilcox from the bottom of the left circle.

The Crunch were down two-skaters for the second time in the period after Adam Comrie and Matt Taormina were each called for minor penalties at the 13:40 mark of the first period, but were able to keep it at a one-goal game as the penalties expired.

As the first period came to a close, the teams had compiled 20 penalty minutes and each registered seven shots on goal, but the Crunch had nothing to show for it.

Syracuse was unable to convert on three straight power play opportunities in the middle frame before the Marlies made it a two-goal game with just 37 seconds left to play in the period. Froese beat Wilcox for the second time in the contest after he grabbed a loose puck in the slot and fired it on goal for his 19th of the season. Toronto gave the Crunch their fourth power play of the period when Colin Smith was called for a delay of game at the 19:40 mark. Despite all the power play time for the Crunch in the second period, they managed just seven shots to the Marlies’ 10 and still couldn’t find the back of the net.

The Crunch were unable to score on the remaining 1:40 left in the power play to start the third period. Jeremy Morin and Conacher received penalties a minute and 15 seconds apart, giving the Marlies another 5-on-3. Toronto made quick work of the two-man advantage, as Kerby Rychel tallied his ninth goal of season at the 6:42 mark.

From there, both clubs were called for a string of penalties but resulting in an important power play for the Crunch when the smoke cleared.

Halmo, Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond and Rychel each received roughing penalties and 10-minute misconducts at 8:40 of the period followed by Mathieu Brodeur’s slashing penalty at 10:38. Marlies forward Colin Greening was called for a roughing penalty at 11:51 before Tony Cameranesi was taken off for high-sticking at 12:43 — giving the Crunch a power play opportunity they would capitalize on to begin their comeback.

On the ensuing man advantage, Erik Condra fed the puck across the slot to Conacher who one-timed it from the top of the right circle. Sparks made the initial save, but Richard grabbed the rebound and potted his 12th goal of the season at the 13:10 mark. Richard’s tally gave him a goal in a league-leading fourth road contest.

The Crunch made it a one-goal game with just 1:42 left in regulation when Comrie potted his sixth goal of the year. Taormina wristed a shot from above the right circle and Sparks made a pad save that sent the puck flying along the ice to the left boards. Comrie beat a Marlies player to the loose puck and flung it on net and behind Sparks. Conacher also received an assist on the goal, which tied him with Taormina for the team-lead with 38 points.

Despite outshooting the Marlies 13-11 in the third period, the Crunch were unable to complete the comeback and fell to Toronto for the first time this season, concluding their six-game road trip.

The Crunch return home to host the Binghamton Senators on Friday.

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