Crunch crushed by Ice Caps in first of weekend set

by Erik Erlendsson | @Erik_Erlendsson | Like us on Facebook
February 18, 2017

The roughest stretch of the season has struck the Syracuse Crunch.

Syracuse headed to St. John’s for a weekend set against the Ice Caps and snowed under in the first game, falling 6-1 on Saturday.

The two teams finish the weekend set Sunday afternoon.

Kristers Gudlevskis failed to get out of the second period when he was pulled after allowing four goals on 20 shots. Adam Wilcox allowed two goals on 17 shots in relief.

Matt Taromina scored the only goal for Syracuse, which has lost consecutive games while giving up six goals in each game.

Chris Terry notched a power play goal for the Ice Caps 6:18 in to the game for his 18th goal of the season. Jacob de la Rose made it 2-0 just over three minutes later with is fourth goal of the season at 9:22

Taromina goal cut the deficit in half with nine minutes to go in the first period while on the power play with his 13th goal of the season, his first in 16 games.

?: @MATaormina

?: Matthew Peca
?: @Adamerne73

The #SyrCrunch cut the lead in half, 2-1. #SYRvsSTJ pic.twitter.com/I8mn4RTuLU

— Syracuse Crunch (@SyracuseCrunch) February 18, 2017

The Crunch kept the game close midway through the second before St. John’s pulled away.

Stefan Matteau made it 3-1 at the 8:37 mark with his ninth of the season before David Broll, a former Crunch forward, increased the lead to 4-1 at 11:32, ending the night for Gudlevskis.

The goalie switch did not spark Syracuse as de la Rose scored his second of the night with 1:36 left in the second period. Zach Redmond put the exclamation mark on the route just 68 seconds in the third period on his second goal of the season.

The Crunch has been a victim of undisciplined play in recent games, toned it down a tad, giving up just five power play chances, allowing one power play goal.