The Syracuse Crunch came close to pulling off the comeback in Game One against the Rochester Americans before falling, 3-2. On Sunday they pulled off the comeback as Gabriel Fortier tipped home a shot from Declan Carlile for a 4-3 victory in overtime. Brandon Halverson made 24 saves on 27 shots to pick up his first career AHL playoff win.
Like they did in Game One, the Crunch went down early to the Americans. Unlike on Friday, Rochester didn’t score on their first shot, this time it was their third shot, and it came on the power play. With a scramble in front of Halverson, Michael Mersch was able to wrist it past him for the lead halfway through the first period.
Michael Mersch (Jiri Kulich, Mason Jobst) Power Play
Not only were they down after the first period on the scoreboard, they were also down a player as Jack Finley left the competition and didn’t return. Injuries have continued to hit this team at the most inopportune time, and losing the big guy early in a pivotal game wasn’t great.
Still, the Crunch continued to play fairly well until a little coverage breakdown let Rochester double their lead. Lukas Rousek was the first to a puck in the neutral zone. He then pulled up and made a nice backhand pass to Linus Weissbach who had found a seam in the defense and was wide open in the middle of the ice. Weissback didn’t miss his chance and, for the second game in a row, the Crunch were facing a 2-0 deficit.
Linus Weissbach (Lukas Rousek)
Also for the second game in a row, Syracuse didn’t let it bother them as they began to put some pressure on the home team. The Crunch began their comeback with under a minute to go in the the second as Jordy Bellerive scored his second goal in as many games. Phil Myers let one go from the point and Bellerive was there to tip it home.
Jordy Bellerive (2) [Phillipe Myers, Dylan Duke]
Much like in Game One, the Crunch were the better team in the third period. And just like in Game One, they turned the offensive pressure into a goal as Gage Goncalves recorded his first goal of the series by, as Bellerive did before him, tipping home a shot from Phil Myers.
Gage Goncalves (1) [Phillipe Myers, Felix Robert]
Unlike in Game One, they didn’t immediately give up the lead. In fact, they took their first lead of the series after Max Groshev and Gabe Fortier disrupted an Amerks breakout. The puck eventually worked its way over to Sean Day, who had crept down from his spot along the blue line. Day whipped it home before Levi could slide over and the Crunch had the lead.
Sean Day (1) [Max Groshev, Gabriel Fortier]
Syracuse had a couple of chances to double up the lead, but Levi stopped Walterri Merla not once, but twice to keep things close. The trouble with a one-goal lead is that it is, in fact, a one-goal lead. A one-goal lead can also be a one-shot lead and that’s all Rochester needed to tie things up late in the period. After Syracuse had held them to just two shots over the first 16 minutes of the final frame, a stretch pass from Ethan Prow sent Mason Jobst in alone. Despite having Daniel Walcott draped all over him, Jobst was able to get a shot off and roof it over Halverson to tie the game.
Mason Jobst (Ethan Prow, Ryan Johnson)
Haleverson had to make a clean save on Linus Weissbach shortly after as Weissbach got behind the net, but couldn’t beat the Syracuse goaltender. The Crunch had one last good look at the net in the final minute as Alex Barre-Boulet unleashed a big slapshot that Levi kicked out in front of the net. Fortier was there for the rebound but Levi stopped that shot as well.
Off to overtime!
The Crunch carried their strong play into overtime as they had seven of the first eight shots. Bellerive had a golden opportunity alone in front of the net but Levi, who finished with 30 saves, stoned him. As the other end, Halverson stretched out to his fullest to deny Justin Richards on a power move in front of the net.
Just before the mid-period ice scrape, the refs ruled that the Amerks had iced the puck. With a fairly clean sheet of ice, the Crunch won the face-off in the Rochester zone and Declan Carlile let a shot go from the point. As they did on two of their previous goals, a Crunch forward was in position in front of the net. This time it was Gabriel Fortier with the deflection for the win.
Gabriel Fortier (1) [Declan Carlie, Alex Barre-Boulet]
Other Hockey News
Lightning keep hope alive [Raw Charge]
They rode an emotional wave from Sergy’s return. Now they have to keep it going to climb back into the series.
Three things Lightning hope to carry over into Game 5 [Tampa Bay Times]
Score goals, don’t allow goals, stay out of the penalty box. Done and done.
Predators PK rewarded with action figures for good play [NHL.com]
Boys with their toys. The Predators are apparently rewarding good play with action figures such as the Joker, Pennywise, and Shredder. Hey, whatever motivates the team.
Matthew still feeling effects of illness [ESPN]
Part of the reason the Maple Leafs are on the verge of another first round exit has been the absence of the league’s top goalscorer. Outside of Game Two where he put up three points, Auston Matthews has struggled, and it looks like it’s partly due to an illness that was severe enough for him to be pulled from Game Four.
Tij Iginla is more than just Jarome’s son – he’s a future NHL star [Daily FaceOff]
The 2024 draft-eligible forward is continuing the family tradition of representing his country following his father, Jarome, and his sister, Jade. Tij, who will likely go in the first round of the draft this summer has been playing with Team Canada at the U-18 World Championships with three points in two games.
Casey DeSmith not available for Game 4, Arturs Silovs starts [The Athletic]
Dave Rittich starting for L.A. is one thing, but Vancouver has had to dig waaaaaay down on the depth chart to get their Game 4 starter as Arturs Silovs and his seven career NHL starts takes to the ice for the Canucks. First Thatcher Demko was injured, then it was Casey DeSmith. All three now have a victory as Silovs stopped 27-of-30 in the Canucks 4-3 overtime win.
The Marlies were eliminated from the playoffs on Sunday and during the traditional end-of-the-series handshake line, Toronto’s Kyle Clifford took umbrage over something and went after former Bolt prospect Boko Imama. Me thinks the league won’t be too happy about it.
