Syracuse Crunch rookies falter at end of three-game weekend

By Erik Erlendsson | @Erik_Erlendsson | Like us on Facebook
October 15, 2017

The Syracuse Crunch capped off a three-game weekend with a difficult game in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Sunday afternoon.

After playing Saturday night at home, the Crunch traveled to Pennsylvania for a midafternoon matinee and came out on the wrong side of a lopsided result to the Penguins.

See more below.

From Syracuse press release

Cory Conacher scored the lone Syracuse Crunch goal in a 6-1 loss to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins today at the Mohegan Sun Arena.

The loss puts the Crunch on a two-game skid as they drop to 1-3-1-0 on the season.

Connor Ingram got the start in net for Syracuse. The rookie goaltender made 25 saves, while Casey DeSmith earned the win between the pipes for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton stopping 24-of-25. Both teams potted one power-play tally with the Crunch going 1-for-8 and the Penguins 1-for-7.

The Pens took the lead just 34 seconds into the game. After a turnover at the goal line, the puck got pushed to the top of the zone for Lukas Bengtsson to rip a slap shot. His attempt was kicked aside, but Jean-Sebastien Dea was at the post to clean up the rebound.

It took just over a minute in the middle stanza for the Pens to double their lead. Daniel Sprong threw a feed across the crease for Garrett Wilson to redirect from the left of the net. Gage Quinney tallied the secondary helper. At the 4:16 mark, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton went up, 3-0. Teddy Blueger skated the puck across the blue line and down the left wing side. He stopped at the top of the left circle and sent a cross-slot pass for Thomas DiPauli to net with a one-timer. Tom Sestito registered a point on the play.

Syracuse finally broke through halfway through the second period during a 5-on-3 advantage. Conacher passed across the top of the zone to Jamie McBain, who sent a quick return feed for the winger to power home from the top of the right circle. Mathieu Joseph earned his first professional point with an assist.

With 3:01 remaining in the frame, the Penguins built back a three-goal lead on the power play. Christian Thomas tipped Zach Trotman’s wrister from the high slot. Tom Kostopoulos assisted on the goal.

The Penguins added two more in the final period to take down the Crunch. At the 9:47 mark, Sprong got a stick on the puck during a battle in front of the net after Ingram made the stop on Quinney’s shot. Thomas made it a multi-point game with a helper. With 5:18 remaining in the game, Sprong backhanded the puck from behind the goal line for Quinney to score from between the circles.

The Crunch return to the War Memorial Arena to host the Binghamton Devils on Friday at 7 p.m.

Crunchables:Mathieu Joseph registered his first professional point today…Cory Conacher is on a four-game points streak with three goals and two assists…Mitchell Stephens had his four-game points streak snapped today.