The Syracuse Crunch took the lead against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the third period, resulting in a 5-2 defeat at Upstate Medical University Arena on Friday night.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (31-21-8-1) was in the lead until the seven-minute mark of the final period. However, the team only managed three shots on goal during that third period, and Syracuse eventually moved ahead with two empty net goals.
A quick first period ended with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton leading 1-0 after a power-play goal by Austin Rueschhoff. Xavier Ouellet shot from the point and Rueschhoff tipped it in past Crunch goalie Brandon Halverson at 16:10 of the opening frame.
Syracuse responded early in the second period, scoring 64 seconds in. Phil Myers aimed towards the net and the puck hit teammate Félix Robert’s head before crossing the goal line. Robert quickly left the ice for the Syracuse locker room after scoring the tying goal, but returned two minutes later.
Ouellet assisted Joona Koppanen in another power play goal at 7:46 of the second period, putting the Penguins ahead again in Koppanen’s 300th AHL game. However, Myers scored six minutes later to tie the game 2-2.
The Crunch took the lead for the first time in the night during the third period with a three-on-one rush. Cole Koepke's pass was deflected by a Penguins defender, then bounced off of Joel Blomqvist’s chest and Waltteri Merelä’s knee before reaching the net.
Gabe Fortier and Alex Barré-Boulet scored empty net goals for Syracuse to complete the scoring.
The Penguins scored two out of five on the power play and successfully killed off four penalties, but didn’t generate any offense at even strength.
Blomqvist made 30 saves on 33 shots faced, while Halverson made 24 stops for Syracuse.
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins fell behind the Syracuse Crunch in the third period, resulting in a 5-2 defeat at Upstate Medical University Arena on Friday night.
