Crunch Control the Ice in 4-1 Win Over Phantoms
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The Syracuse Crunch came into PPL Center with purpose and left with a statement win, taking down the Lehigh Valley Phantoms 4-1 in a game that showcased depth, discipline, and timely execution.
This one opened quietly, but once the second period hit, Syracuse flipped the switch. The Crunch broke a scoreless tie just over four minutes into the middle frame with a power-play goal, and from there, they never looked back. They tacked on another midway through the period, absorbed a late Phantoms goal, and then slammed the door in the third with two more tallies - including an empty-net dagger - to secure their second win of a back-to-back weekend.
Balanced Attack, Abruzzese Leads the Way
Nick Abruzzese led the charge offensively with a goal and an assist, while Jakob Pelletier chipped in with two helpers - including his 100th career AHL assist, a milestone that reflects just how effective he's been as a playmaker at this level. But this was far from a two-man show. Eight different Crunch skaters found the scoresheet, a testament to the team's depth and willingness to share the puck.
Syracuse now improves to 21-14-2-1 on the season and holds a 2-0 edge in their four-game season series with Lehigh Valley. And with the kind of complete performance they put together in this one, they’re building momentum at just the right time.
Gillies Solid in Crunch Debut
Between the pipes, Jon Gillies made his first start for the Crunch and looked right at home. He turned aside 27 of 28 shots, keeping the Phantoms in check and giving his team the stability they needed to play their game. On the other end, Yaniv Perets stopped 17 of 20 shots for Lehigh Valley.
Special teams played a role, though not a dominant one. Syracuse went 1-for-4 on the man advantage, while the Phantoms converted just once on six opportunities - a number that points to missed chances for Lehigh Valley and disciplined penalty killing by the Crunch.
How It Happened
The breakthrough came on the power play early in the second period. Pelletier let one fly from the top of the right circle, and Dylan Duke - who continues to be a force in front of the net - got the tip for his league-leading 12th power-play goal of the season. That’s the kind of gritty, opportunistic offense that wins games in this league.
Ten minutes later, Syracuse doubled the lead. Milo Roelens worked the puck down the right boards and threaded a pass to Tristan Allard in the low slot, who made no mistake burying it past Perets. The Phantoms finally responded in the dying seconds of the period, with Anthony Richard hammering home a one-timer on the power play to cut the deficit to 2-1.
But that’s as close as it would get.
In the third, Tommy Miller made it 3-1 with a bit of puck luck - his pass from the right circle pinballed off a couple of bodies before finding the back of the net. And with under three minutes left, Conor Geekie broke free on a rush through center ice, drew the defense and the goaltender, and unselfishly dished it off to Abruzzese for the empty-net finish.
What’s Next
The Crunch now turn their attention to a Monday matinee showdown with the Rochester Americans - a key divisional matchup that could have playoff implications down the line. If Syracuse can carry this kind of balanced, confident play into that one, they’ll be tough to beat.
Crunch Notes:
- Jakob Pelletier recorded his 100th AHL assist in the win.
- Jon Gillies earned the victory in his first start with the Crunch.
- Dylan Duke is now tied for the league lead in power-play goals with 12.
Syracuse is starting to look like a team that knows exactly who it is - and that’s a dangerous thing for the rest of the league.