Crunch Stumble in Week 23
The Syracuse Crunch hit a bump in the road with a three-game winless streak during Week 23, all on their home ice at the Upstate Medical University Arena. This stretch matches their longest winless run of the season.
The week began with the Crunch's five-game winning streak coming to an end in a 5-1 defeat against the Toronto Marlies on Wednesday. The struggles continued with a 4-1 loss to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Friday. However, the Crunch managed to salvage a point with a shootout loss to the Laval Rocket on Saturday, as both teams fought back from third-period deficits.
Currently, the Crunch sit with 75 points (35-19-3-2), trailing the Rocket by four points for the top spot in the North Division. They are gearing up for their first three-in-three stretch of the season this coming weekend.
Standout Performers
Mitchell Chaffee was a bright spot for the Crunch, netting two goals over the week. He scored the team's lone goals in the losses to Toronto and Lehigh Valley.
Chaffee has now reached the 20-goal mark for the second time in his career and boasts 48 points (20g, 28a) in 47 games. The Crunch join Grand Rapids and Ontario as one of three teams with three 20-goal scorers.
Chaffee has been on a roll, logging points in 13 of his last 16 games since February 4, with 18 points (9g, 9a) in that span, ranking him second on the Crunch and tied for sixth in the AHL.
Jacob Pelletier continued to shine, being the only Crunch player to register points in all three games last week. The AHL's top scorer added assists on Wednesday and Friday before netting a power-play goal on Saturday. His scoring streak now stretches to 10 games, the longest active streak in the AHL.
During this streak, Pelletier has amassed 14 points (3g, 11a). Leading the AHL with 64 points (23g, 41a) in 53 games, he is eyeing the AHL's scoring title, a feat last achieved by a Crunch player when Carter Verhaeghe took the crown in 2018-19.
New Faces on the Ice
The Crunch were active ahead of the AHL Trade Deadline, acquiring forward Matthew Peca from Springfield and defenseman Ian Mitchell from Grand Rapids. Both players made their debuts in the final two games of the week.
Peca, 32, contributed an assist over the two games and has tallied 35 points (8g, 27a) in 51 games between Springfield and Syracuse. Mitchell also added an assist and has recorded 21 points (4g, 16a) in 47 games this season.
Looking Ahead
Friday, March 20 at Rochester | 7:05 p.m.
The Crunch kick off their three-in-three weekend with a road game against the Rochester Americans at Blue Cross Arena. The season series is tied with each team winning four of the eight encounters. Rochester is clinging to a playoff spot with a slim three-point lead, despite winning just once in their last 11 games.
**Saturday, March 21 vs. Cleveland | 7 p.m.
**
**Sunday, March 22 vs.
Cleveland | 4 p.m. **
The weekend wraps up with back-to-back home games against the Cleveland Monsters. If the playoffs were to start today, these two would face off in the North Division Semifinals.
The Crunch hold a four-point advantage over the Monsters for second place and home-ice advantage. However, Cleveland has been a tough opponent, maintaining a 6-0-1-2 streak against Syracuse dating back to the 2023-24 season, including a playoff sweep in 2024.
Week 23 Game Recap
- Wednesday, March 11 vs. Toronto | L, 5-1 The Crunch struggled against Toronto, with Chaffee scoring the lone goal. Despite outshooting the Marlies, Syracuse couldn't capitalize on their chances.
- Friday, March 13 vs. Lehigh Valley | L, 4-1 Chaffee again found the net, but Lehigh Valley's efficient scoring and strong defense proved too much for the Crunch.
- Saturday, March 14 vs. Laval | OTL, 4-3 In a tightly contested match, Pelletier's power-play goal was a highlight. The game went to a shootout, where Laval edged out the win.
Team Stats Overview
The Crunch's power play ranks sixth in the league at 22.3%, while their penalty kill is 11th at 82.7%. They are tied for 12th in goals for and third in goals against, showing a strong defensive presence. With a first-place ranking in shots against, Syracuse's defense has been a standout, though they'll look to tighten up their offensive output in the coming games.