Syracuse Crunch
Syracuse Crunch rally in season opener, rookies litter the scoresheet
by Erik Erlendsson | @Erik_Erlendsson | Like us on Facebook
October 15, 2021
TAMPA – Two rookies helped lead the Syracuse Crunch on the comeback trail to open the American Hockey League season on Friday.
Syracuse rallied from down two goals in the opening period to secure a 6-4 victory against the Cleveland Monsters.
The Crunch are back in action on Saturday against Cleveland.
Max Cajkovic and Shawn Element each had two points while Gage Goncalves had his first goal as a professional to lead the way. Sean Day had a shorthanded goal and an assist while Gabriel Dumont had a goal and an assist. Max Lagace start the game in net, stopping eight of eleven shots against before Hugo Alnefelt came in relief in the second period, allowing gone goal on 15 shots to pick up the victory.
Syracuse fell behind 2-0 to open the game on goals from Tim Berni and Jake Christiansen 1:26 apart.
The Crunch answered on a power play goal by Jimmy Huntington at 17:18 while Charles Hudon tied the game 1:27 later, redirecting a shot from Ryan Jones.
Cajkovic put Syracuse in front for the first time 2:55 into the second period, converting a 2-on-1 feed from Element, his second assist of the game.
After Cleveland pulled even at 6:57, Lagace was pulled and Alnefelt took over.
Day would regain the lead for the Crunch late in the second, converting a shorthanded breakaway with 2:51 left in the period.
Goncalves scored his first professional goal 3:58 into the third period, tapping in a backdoor pass down low from Cajkovic.
First pro goal for @GageGoncalves! ? pic.twitter.com/COljNYkeSx
— Syracuse Crunch (@SyracuseCrunch) October 16, 2021
Dumont potted an empty net goal with 3:24 remaining before Cleveland pulled one back at 16:44.