Syracuse Crunch know the clinching game will be the most difficult to win

by Erik Erlendsson | @Erik_Erlendsson | Like us on Facebook
April 27, 2017

The last game of a playoff series is always the toughest to win.

The Syracuse Crunch are about to find out just how hard it really is.

The Crunch host Game 4 of the North Division semifinals on Friday, leading the best-of-five series against St. John’s 2-1. (The game can be heard tonight on tblpowerplay.com A victory pushes Syracuse to a second-round matchup against the winner of the series between Albany and Toronto. A loss pushes the series to a deciding Game 5 on Saturday.

Syracuse wants to ensure business is taken care of tonight.

”This is exciting, it’s a great feeling . . . this is the best time of the year,’’ goaltender Mike McKenna said about the feeling heading in to Game 4. “I can’t wait.’’

Each of the first three games of the series have been tight affairs, with each decided by a goal including Saturday’s Game 2 that was decided in double overtime. No team has had more than a two-goal lead at any time and each team has seen a two-goal lead disappear.

So even though the Crunch have come out on top the past two games and now have St. John’s on the brink, they know things can turn around quickly.

”It’s not going to be easy,’’ captain Erik Condra said. “They are well coached, they have a good system and they have a good strategy against us. We are going to have to be better and smarter, no turnovers, and play our game.’’

The IceCaps have a dynamic top line, led by Charlie Hudon and Nikita Scherbak, and a dangerous power play, even though the Crunch have been able to stymie the St. John’s offense for the most part to this point. But with St. John’s now facing elimination, they figure to put their best skate forward and play the best game of the series with their backs against the wall looking to impose their will on the Crunch and try to take them out of their game.

”In the first game they were (physical) and we kind of got sucked in to it a little bit,’’ center Byron Froese said. “It’s definitely a big plan for them and we just have to make sure we play between the whistles.’’

And it’s scenarios like this that saw Syracuse management opt to start the series on the road – a choice the top seed is given with the extended travel to reach Newfoundland – and take the home ice advantage in the back half of the series. A Friday night crowd figures to give the building even more life.

”It’s huge when you can play in front of your fans,’’ head coach Ben Groulx said. “Our fans have been very supportive of us and it’s good to be back. Hopefully our fans are going to continue to be behind us and be loud. We need that.’’

”An old barn like this is a fun place to play in, first as a visiting team which I was for so long,’’ McKenna said. “As the home team, I just love it, it’s great.’’

Syracuse hopes the advantage of being on home ice plays out as if it is and push the team to the next round.

”It’s always big to be at home, that’s what we fought for in the regular season,’’ Condra said. “Hopefully we take advantage of that

Series schedule, All times Eastern Daylight Time:

Game 1 – St. John’s 2, Syracuse 1

Game 2- Syracuse 4, St. John’s 3 (2OT)

Game 3 – Syracuse 3, St. John’s 2

Game 4 – Friday at Syracuse – 7 p.m.

Game 5 – Saturday, at Syracuse – 7 p.m. (if necessary)