SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Syracuse Crunch took a quick two-goal lead early in the first period and held off the Providence Bruins to win, 3-2, tonight at the War Memorial Arena.
Cameron Darcy opened scoring for the Crunch with his first of the season. He was followed by Yanni Gourde and Mike Halmo. Jeremy Morin put up the team’s only multi-point game with two helpers on the night. The victory advanced the Crunch to 4-2-0-0.
Adam Wilcox earned his second win this weekend in net for the Crunch turning aside 24-of-26 shots on goal. Malcolm Subban stopped 22-of-25 for the Bruins after rejoining the team off a stint with the Boston Bruins. Syracuse was unable to convert on six power-play opportunities, but the penalty kill unit was a perfect 4-for-4.
For the second consecutive night, the Crunch were first to score. This time, the team lit the lamp 2:14 into the opening period. Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond chipped the puck out from behind the cage for Darcy to net from the slot. Dylan Blujus earned a point on the play. Six minutes later, Gourde shoveled in a backhander off a slick pass from Morin. Henri Ikonen grabbed the secondary helper.
Providence cut the lead in half with 8:28 remaining in the opening frame. While Wilcox was down, Jordan Szwarz slipped one past the netminder with the help of Zac Rinaldo and Wayne Simpson.
The Crunch reclaimed a two-goal lead halfway through the middle frame. After receiving a feed from Morin, Mike Halmo ripped a slap shot passed Subban from the high slot. Michael Bournival recorded the secondary assist on the eventual game-winner.
Anton Blidh brought the Bruins within one for the second time in the third period, but the Crunch held on to their lead and took the first of two meetings this season.
Syracuse travels to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to complete the weekend’s three-in-three tomorrow at 3:05 p.m.
Ticket packages for the 2016-17 season are on sale now and can be purchased either in person at the Crunch office located in the War Memorial Arena at 800 S. State St. in Syracuse or by calling the office at 315-473-4444. For the latest Crunch news, visit www.syracusecrunch.com or follow the club on Facebook (www.facebook.com/syracusecrunch), Twitter (@SyracuseCrunch) and Instagram (@syracusecrunch) using #SyrCrunch, WeAreOne and BLUnited.
Crunchables: The Crunch last hosted the Bruins on Jan. 11, 2014. Syracuse won, 1-0…With two assists tonight, Jeremy Morin recorded his first multi-point game with the Crunch.
