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Crunch post masterful performance in do-or-die game.
SYR-5
ROC-2
Syracuse Wins the Series 3-2
Brandon Halverson allowed two goals on 18 shots for the victory. The Crunch took the week of prep after the Game Four debacle and just absolutely drilled back down on their defensive system. Impressive.
First Period
2:28 SYR Carlile (1), (Crozier, Robert)
9:43 SYR Koepke (2), (Lilleberg, Barre-Boulet)
17:33 ROC Davies (1), (Cecconi, Rousek)
Second Period
8:35 SYR Merela (3), (Robert)
10:33 ROC Mersch (2), (Kulich, Biro)(PP)
Third Period
14:50 SYR Koepke (3), (Barre-Boulet, Stephens)
16:49 SYR Robert (1), (Goncalves, Crozier)(EN)
Cole Koepke, Felix Robert, and Alex Barre-Boulet were the game’s three stars.
All respect to Head Coach Joel Bouchard for the way he got Syracuse to flush the disappointment of Game Four and refocus on playing their game. That took maturity from the team beyond their years. This is a Crunch team that hadn’t won a playoff series in several years and this group is learning how to win in the postseason. And if Game Four was a F- midterm, tonight was an A+ final exam.
Finnish star forward Niko Huuhtanen made his AHL debut for Syracuse in the victory.
Syracuse advances to face Cleveland in the North Division Final after the Monsters polished off Belleville tonight to win their series three games to one.
Box score from TheAHL.com.
