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Syracuse keeps pushing ahead in tight North Division standings.
LV-1
SYR-4
Max Lagace allowed one goal on 36 shots for the victory. A commanding performance by a goaltender who hasn’t had a great year. Lehigh Valley came to play in the First Period and Lagace held them off.
First Period
18:15 SYR Koepke (5), (Usau, Thompson)
Second Period
7:54 SYR Jones (3), (Carlile, Edmonds)
12:32 SYR Robert (13), (Barre-Boulet, Fortier)
Third Period
3:56 SYR Robert (14), (Goncalves, Carrick)(PP)
5:39 LV Anisimov (15), (Connauton, Foerster)
Felix Robert, Ryan Jones, and Lagace were the game’s three stars. Robert may be heating up after a tepid return from injury. He had just a lone assist in eight games since coming back on February 10. He has 2-1-3 in his last two outings, as the team hopes he can get back on the heater he was on to start his campaign.
Alex Barre-Boulet’s helper temporarily moved him into a tie for the league lead in scoring, but an early goal by Tucson’s Michael Carcone has put him back out in front.
In a sneaky good rookie campaign, Declan Carlile leads all rookies with a +24 rating, which is currently the third best in the AHL among all skaters. Listed at 6’1″ 189 lbs, I’m not sure he’s the ideal size the Lightning look for at the NHL level, but he’s not much different size-wise than Nick Perbix.
With the victory, Syracuse claimed sole possession of second in the North Division by virtue of Utica’s 2-1 OT loss to Charlotte. So Syracuse sits one point ahead of Utica with a game in hand on the Comets. Rochester is ahead, but barely, in Laval, and would move three back of Syracuse with a game in hand if they can hold on.
Box score from TheAHL.com.
