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Syracuse’s struggles with Utica continue despite hot streak.
SYR-1
UTI-5
Hugo Alnefelt allowed four goals on 28 shots for the loss.
First Period
8:09 UTI Okhotiuk (3), (Wotherspoon, Holtz)
Second Period
5:01 UTI Walsh (8), (Holtz, Schmelzer)
16:58 SYR Richard (16), (Raddysh)(SH)
Third Period
14:31 UTI Wotherspoon (3), (unassisted)(SH)
17:17 UTI Flynn (12), (Wotherspoon)(EN)
19:39 UTI Halonen (2), (Vukojevic, Groleau)
Just a tough spot to put Alnefelt in playing his first start in forever against the division leaders and arguably the best team in the conference. He gave the club a chance before the wheels came off the Wotherspoon’s shorthanded goal.
The Crunch are now 3-9-1-0 against Utica this season. Take their tilts with the division leaders out of the equation and they’d have a far more comfortable lease on the playoffs in terms of points percentage.
Syracuse maintains the third spot and first round playoff bye in the North Division, but the game Saturday against Toronto becomes mammoth with the Marlies just .003 behind in points percentage. With seven games to go, the Crunch also have a two point lead on last team out Rochester with the Crunch holding a game in hand and both teams slated to play 76. Needless to say, the Crunch really want a regulation win against Toronto to close out the weekend.
Box score from TheAHL.com.
