SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Adam Wilcox made a career-high 48 saves to help drive the Syracuse Crunch to a 4-2 win over the Lehigh Valley Phantoms tonight at the War Memorial Arena.
After going down by one in the first period, Matthew Peca and Jake Dotchin netted back-to-back goals in 21 seconds to regain the lead. The Phantoms tied the game in the third, but Matt Taormina and Yanni Gourde added to the Crunch’s total to help advance the team to 13-6-0-1 and jump out to a 1-0 lead in the two-game season series.
Wilcox backstopped the Crunch, earning his ninth win of the season with a 48-save performance. Alex Lyon kicked aside 30 shots for the Phantoms. Syracuse was unable to convert on three power play opportunities, but successfully shut down all five Lehigh Valley man-advantages.
The Phantoms were first to strike, but the Crunch quickly took over the lead with two markers just seconds apart. At the 11:57 mark of the first period, Corban Knight threw a feed in front of the cage for Cole Bardreau to redirect in. Less than a minute later, the Crunch went up, 2-1. Peca skated down the right side and sent a shot on goal while crossing the slot. The first attempt was stopped, but he picked up his own rebound and netted the second chance. Assists when to Erik Condra and Adam Erne. Jake Dotchin proceeded to score the go-ahead goal from the blue line with the help of Gourde and Mike Halmo.
The Crunch held onto the lead until the Phantoms tied it up halfway through the final frame. Bardreau grabbed his rebound and beat Wilcox from a wide angle on the right wing side. Knight and Will O’Neill tallied points on the equalizer.
With 2:35 remaining in regulation, Taormina recorded the game-winner. The defenseman was at the right point when the puck kicked out from down low. His shot slid through traffic and put the Crunch back on top. Erne and Condra both earned their second points of the night on the play.
While shorthanded, Gourde scored the insurance goal with 21 seconds remaining on an empty net off an assist from Condra to down the Phantoms, 4-2.
The Crunch host the Albany Devils this Friday at 7 p.m.
Syracuse Crunch single game and 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: Adam Wilcox’s last career mark was 39 saves on Dec. 20, 2015 against Hershey…With an assist in seven consecutive home games, Yanni Gourde owns the longest active streak in the league…Mathiew Brodeur played in his 250th AHL game tonight.
(Syracuse Crunch photo)
