Just 48 hours ago the Syracuse Crunch and Providence Bruins were both battling their way to game seven wins. The turnaround was quick as both teams met in game one of the Eastern Conference Final on Friday night. The series started in Rhode Island, but despite a dismal road series against Toronto, the Crunch came out on top with a 6-3 win in the series opener.
As has been a recurring theme as of late, the Crunch found the back of the net early. Erik Condra was the last person to touch the puck before Tye McGinn fired a shot past Bruins starting goaltender Zane McIntyre from the high-slot. McGinn’s tally came just under four minutes into the contest and was his fourth of the playoffs.
Coming through for us time and @TyeMcGinn. #PROvsSYR #FIN15H pic.twitter.com/hRNIuB1wZu
— Syracuse Crunch (@SyracuseCrunch) May 19, 2017
Syracuse extended their lead to two goals at the 12:20 mark of the opening frame. Yanni Gourde sent the puck on net from a sharp angle and after a few whacks out in front, Michael Bournival found twine. Bournival’s third of the postseason was assisted by Gourder and Cory Conacher.
The #SyrCrunch double their lead on their fifth shot of the game. #PROvsSYR #FIN15H pic.twitter.com/hLZJjU5IPC
— Syracuse Crunch (@SyracuseCrunch) May 19, 2017
The Atlantic Division powerhouse wasn’t going to go down without a fight. They found a way to beat Crunch starting goalie Mike McKenna early in the second stanza. With a shots-on-goal advantage of eight, it was going to take a greasy goal to beat the veteran McKenna and that’s exactly what happened.
After faking a shot, Bruins defenseman Alex Grant launched a rocket of a slapshot from just below the blue-line, through traffic, off the post, and in. Grant’s second tally of the playoffs came unassisted at 4:37 of the period to cut the Crunch lead to 2-to-1.
Alex Grant with a rocket to pull the @AHLBruins within one. #PROvsSYR pic.twitter.com/GfcKr7fOr0
— AHL (@TheAHL) May 20, 2017
The ‘Cuse wouldn’t wait very long before responding and depositing another puck behind McIntyre. On their first man-advantage of the evening, Joel Vermin finished off of a brilliant back-hand pass from Matthew Peca. With that marker, Joel Vermin gained sole control of the team lead in goals this postseason with five.
The boys are on tonight. #PROvsSYR #FIN15H pic.twitter.com/TS5o6HGeK6
— Syracuse Crunch (@SyracuseCrunch) May 20, 2017
Just as they had in the first period, Syracuse opened the regulation period with a quick goal to take the fans in Providence out of the game once again. Second effort chances were the way to beat the baby Bruins on Friday as Gabriel Dumont banged home a rebound to extend the Crunch lead to 4-1. For the Crunch alternate captain, it was his fourth of the playoffs and second is as many games.
Gabriel Dumont scores on a loose puck to extend Syracuse’s lead 4-1. #PROvsSYR pic.twitter.com/PBlZ5ech3f
— AHL (@TheAHL) May 20, 2017
Is it a Crunch playoff game without late drama though? The Crunch seemed poised to roll on to a big victory with little resistance from the B’s but that all changed in a matter of just 13 seconds. Shades of game three in Toronto right? Jake DeBrusk and Danton Heinen pumped some energy back into the Dunkin Donuts Center with two goals in rapid succession.
Luckily for the Crunch, they would net two empty-net goals in the final minutes of action to secure a huge game one road victory. The goals came courtesy of Yanni Gourde and Byron Froese. Mike McKenna had another stellar performance between the pipes for Syracuse stopping 33 out of 36 shots. The veteran goaltedner is now 8-4 in the playoffs.
Game 2 is scheduled for Sunday night at 7:05 in Providence.
The #SyrCrunch added three third period goals to defeat the @AHLBruins, 6-3, in Game 1. #PROvsSYR #FIN15H pic.twitter.com/cD6S0Jfonb
— Syracuse Crunch (@SyracuseCrunch) May 20, 2017
