On Monday, the AHL released their playoff schedule. Not only does that include the opening round match-ups, it also includes a few of the semi-final rounds as well, which means the Syracuse Crunch know when their post-season starts. For those not quite so familiar with the AHL playoff format, they have what amounts to basically a play-in series for their first round. However, the top seeds get an automatic bye into the semifinal round. With the Crunch finishing second in the North Division, they not only know when they’re going to play, they know who they are going to play.
Starting on Friday the 24th, the Crunch will take on the Cleveland Monsters in a rematch of the 2024 North Division Finals that Cleveland won 3-0. The teams also met in the 2019 North Division Semifinals, which Cleveland took 3-1.
The semifinals are a best-of-five series and to cut down on the travel between the two franchises, they will play a 2-3 format with the lower-seeded Monsters hosting the first two games. The series will then switch to Syracuse for the final three games (if needed).
Game One – Friday April 24, 2026 – 7:00 PM – @ Cleveland
Game Two – Sunday April 26, 2026 – 4:00 PM – @ Cleveland
Game Three – Friday May 1, 2026 – 7:00 PM – @ Syracuse
Game Four* – Sunday May 3, 2026 – 3:00 PM @ Syracuse
Game Five* – Saturday May 9, 2026 – 5:00 PM @ Syracuse
*If Necessary
With the long breaks between games, it can often be difficult for momentum to carry over, which negates a little of the advantage lower-seeded teams have by hosting the first two games of a series.
Syracuse was solid on the road this year with an 18-13-2-3 record while Cleveland went 19-11-4-2 at home. Syracuse took the season series with a 2-1-1 record during the regular series with both teams holding serve on home ice. Cleveland won the first two meetings at home in December (4-1 and 3-2 (OT)) while the Crunch returned the favor in March, taking both of the games in the Upstate Medical University Arena at The Oncenter War Memorial (6-2 and 6-3).
With Columbus out of the playoffs, the Monsters should have their full complement of players. Luca Del Bel Belluz (58 points in 55 games) and Mikael Pyyhtia (49 points in 59 games) paced the offense for them while Ivan Fedotov (23-16-6-2, 2.87 GAA, .887 SV%) led them in net.
For Syracuse, they could be a little short-handed, especially if Conor Geekie is still in Tampa with the Lightning. Even without him, they can still boast one of the top offenses in the AHL led by Jakob Pelletier who led the league in scoring with 77 points and finished the season with a 20-game point streak. Dylan Duke led the team with 32 goals, including 18 on the power play while Mitchell Chaffee (57 points) and Nick Abruzzese (51 points) also eclipsed the 50-point mark. Deadline pickup, and old friend, Matthew Peca put up 13 points (4 goals, 9 assists) in his return to Syracuse.
While Brandon Halverson is in Tampa right now, chances are he will be back with Syracuse in time for the series to start. He finished the regular season with a 24-11-6-6 record while posting a 2.42 GAA and .905 SV%. Ryan Fanti put up almost identical numbers in his first full AHL season as went 13-12-1-2 with a 2.41 GAA and .905 SV%.
