The bottom line: Syracuse Crunch vs. Grand Rapids Griffins, game 2
The bottom line is that the Syracuse Crunch lost game 1 doing all of the things they should have learned not to do during the last 3 rounds.
Penalty trouble? Check.
Defense leaving Crunch goalie Mike McKenna out to dry? Check.
Offense drying up for long stretches, pulling the Crunch away from their game and giving the opposing team dangerous chances? Check.
Now, the Crunch face battling back from a 0-1 series deficit, something that, while not impossible, is historically…iffy:
Crunch is swimming against the tide of history. 76% of teams who win Game 1 win the #CalderCup
— Brent Axe (@BrentAxeMedia) June 3, 2017
However, all is not lost. The Crunch has been considered the underdogs for a large majority of the playoffs. Had the Crunch allowed history in this league to affect them, they wouldn’t even be in the final round. No team that faced as much adversity as Syracuse has this past season has any business being here. Really, this is nothing new to a team that is used to adjusting on the fly.
There’s also this:
Syracuse didn’t play a great game, on the road, in the box a lot, and still almost won the game. #Positives
— Bolts Jolts (@BoltsJolts) June 3, 2017
This team is resilient. It has been all season. In fact, I’d say it’s faced way more damaging prospects than a 0-1 series deficit several times over. If Syracuse learns the lessons from what they did to themselves Friday night and applies them Saturday then this series could be a whole different ballgame come Sunday morning.
Pre-game reading, listening, and viewing:
- Previous previews: game 1
- Brandon Curtis’ game recaps: game 1
- Round preview from Patrick Williams, NHL.com AHL correspondent.
- Williams also did a great piece on Crunch Head Coach Ben Groulx.
- Don’t miss the round from the Crunch side of things from AHL blogger Tony Androckitis.
- Round preview and schedule from Winging It In Motown.
- The Crunch’s SoundCloud is a great place to go for player interviews and tidbits.
- ESPN Syracuse has an Audio Vault that has a lot of quality Crunch stuff from the past few days.
- Be sure to check out Syracuse’s YouTube channel if you’re looking for highlights, interviews, and recaps.
- You can find more coverage from the team’s beat writer and others, including our friend Brent Axe, over at Syracuse.com.
- Speaking of Brent, he wrote a very meaningful article about what winning the Cup would mean to the Crunch and its fans. /
Game night essentials:
- The pre-game radio broadcast with Dan D’Uva will start at 6:45 EST on ESPN Syracuse. You can stream the game in its entirety for free.
- If you’re local to the Syracuse area and want to visit Taste of Syracuse and listen to the game, you’re in luck:/
You can listen to games 1 & 2 of the Calder Cup Finals & Cheer On The @SyracuseCrunch at @tasteofsyracuse. Stop the NYS Craft Beer Tent.
— ESPN Radio Syracuse (@ESPNSyracuse) May 31, 2017
- You’re also in luck if you’re local to Syracuse and want to go to a watch party:/
Join us at @TullysGoodTimes this Friday and Saturday to cheer on your #SyrCrunch in the #CalderCup Finals. #FIN15H → https://t.co/IK2x0Zdk5v pic.twitter.com/lSiB5lLECu
— Syracuse Crunch (@SyracuseCrunch) May 31, 2017
- Puck drop is at 7:00 ET in Grand Rapids.
- AHL Live has an amazing special deal this round: watch for free!/
AHL Fans: Stream the 2017 #CalderCup Finals between @griffinshockey & the @SyracuseCrunch for free at https://t.co/H4S6BaaGAM! pic.twitter.com/2r9XZmraL3
— AHL (@TheAHL) May 28, 2017
- Full media information can be found here:/
Here’s how to watch and listen to the 2017 #CalderCup Finals between your #SyrCrunch and @griffinshockey. #FIN15H → https://t.co/Hu8E0sEPwh pic.twitter.com/rilwOhdF9n
— Syracuse Crunch (@SyracuseCrunch) May 30, 2017
Potential lines and pairings for Syracuse:
Starting netminder:
Mike McKenna
Potential lines:
Michael Bournival – Yanni Gourde – Cory Conacher
Adam Erne – Gabriel Dumont – Erik Condra
Tye McGinn – Matthew Peca – Kevin Lynch
Anthony Cirelli – Byron Froese – Joel Vermin
Potential defensive pairings:
Matt Taormina – Dominik Masin
Slater Koekkoek – Ben Thomas
Jake Dotchin – Mathieu Brodeur
Injury updates/news:
-Daniel Walcott was hurt during round 3’s game 2. He has not played since. He is currently listed as day-to-day.
Potential lines and pairings for Grand Rapids:
Starting netminder:
Jared Coreau
Potential lines:
Tyler Bertuzzi – Tomas Nosek – Martin Frk
Eric Tangradi – Ben Street – Mitch Callahan
Evgeny Svechnikov – Kyle Criscuolo – Matt Lorito
Matthew Ford – Dominic Turgeon – Colin Campbell
Potential defensive pairings:
Brian Lashoff – Robbie Russo
Nathan Paetsch – Joe Hicketts
Dan Renouf – Dylan McIlrath
