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Syracuse Crunch

Howden’s first professional goal lifts Syracuse closer to a playoff spot

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By Steven DiOssi | @StevenDiOssi | Like us on Facebook
April 8, 2017

Brett Howden’s first professional goal was the game-winner for the Syracuse Crunch in a 3-2 victory over the Albany Devils at War Memorial Arena on Saturday.

In just his second game as a pro, the 19-year-old tallied his first goal with just 3:22 left in the third period as Syracuse pulled within a point of the Toronto Marlies for the North Division lead with the win. Dominik Masin and Tanner Richard also added goals, as the Crunch extended the gap between them and the third-place Devils to five points with just three games left in the regular season.

Syracuse reduced its magic number to clinch a playoff spot to one point.

Kristers Gudlevskis stopped 24-of-26 shots to earn his 14th victory of the season and Devils goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood made 29 saves. The Crunch went 1-for-4 on the power play and held Albany to 1-for-6 with the man advantage. it was also the professional debut for Dennis Yan, who was held scoreless in the contest.

Each team registered six shots on goal in a scoreless first period but exploded offensively in the second, combining for 25 shots and four goals.

Albany opened the scoring when Yohann Auvitu beat Gudlevskis with a slap shot from the slot on the power play just 5:20 into the period. But after Adam Comrie was called for hooking at 9:59, the Crunch penalty-killing unit evened the score 52 seconds later.

Richard carried a puck out of the defensive zone with speed and fed it to John Kurtz in the neutral zone. Kurtz fired a shot on goal as Richard charged hard to the net and picked up the rebound and put it past Blackwood for his career-high 14th goal of the season at 10:51.

Syracuse took the lead when Masin grabbed a loose puck during a scramble in front of the Albany net and fired it past Blackwood for his third goal of the year at 17:14 of the second period. Erik Condra and Matthew Peca added assists on the goal.

With the Crunch on the power play, the Devils got a shorthanded goal of their own with just 48 seconds left in the period. After Gudlevskis made the initial save on a Brian Gibbons breakaway, Kevin Rooney potted it from the slot.

The Crunch entered the third period with a 24-17 lead in shots and seeking to earn two points for their first time in five games.

After each team killed off a penalty in the third period, Albany forward Blake Pietila was taken off for a holding penalty with just 4:47 remaining.

With Syracuse setup in the offensive zone Adam Comrie sent a pass to Richard at the right circle. Richard wristed a hard shot towards the net and Howden tipped it in from just above the crease at 16:38 of the period.

The Crunch will seek to build upon this momentum in a road contest against the Utica Comets on Wednesday.

Brett Howden postgame interview

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