Game Story: Syracuse - 3 at W-B/Scranton - 2 (1/18/23)

WILKES-BARRE, Pa - The Syracuse Crunch extended their winning streak to four games Wednesday night in Wilkes-Barre following a 3-2 victory over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

After a scoreless opening period, Alex Barre-Boulet and Gabriel Dumont tallied goals in the middle frame before Daniel Walcott added an insurance marker in the third period that wound up being the game-winning goal. Trevor Carrick and Gage Gonclaves recorded two assists each for the Crunch, while goaltender Hugo Alnegelt stopped 26 of the 28 shots he faced to earn the win.

Drake Caggiula temporarily evened the game at one apiece in the middle frame before Dumont's goal put the Crunch ahead for good. Alex Nylander brought the Penguins back within a goal in the final 75 seconds of regulation - scoring an extra attacker goal to complete the scoring. Filip Lindberg stopped 25 of 28 in the loss.

Crunch Post-Game EXTRA!

Head coach Benoit Groulx

On his team clamping down and winning a low-scoring affair:

"Lately, we won games like 5-1,7-3, 5-2 [and now] 3-2. So, we've got our scoring touch back and I think we're playing way better defensively, too. I think our young goalie is doing well. Hugo Alnefelt is just competing on every puck. And we can tell that he's a big part of our team right now. So yeah, when you compete, you execute and you manage, I think you're giving yourself a chance to win. And that's what I believe we've been doing lately."

Defenseman Phil Myers

"I think we're just on the same page, in terms of our neutral zone and [defensive zone] and stuff. We're tightening everything up. I think that's pretty much it. Everybody's on the same page. And it's clicking, so it's nice to see."

Syracuse Crunch Lineup Notes

Hugo Alnefelt got the start in net for Syracuse Wednesday night in Wilkes-Barre. Max Lagace served as the Crunch's backup goaltender.

Crunch Scratches: Shawn Element, PC Labrie, Felix Robert and Lucas Edmonds

Lines/Pairings:

Gabe Fortier - Gabriel Dumont - Alex Barre-Boulet Cole Koepke - Simon Ryfors - Gemel Smith Gage Gonclaves - Jack Finley - Daniel Walcott Rudolfs Balcers - Ilya Usau

Trevor Carrick - Phil Myers Sean Day - Darren Raddysh Declan Carlile - Jack Thompson Ryan Jones

Hugo Alnefelt - Max Lagace

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Lineup Notes

Filip Lindberg got the start in net for the Penguins Wednesday. Tommy Nappier served as the team's backup.

The Penguins' depth on defense is being tested with Taylor Fedun, Mark Friedman and Ty Smith up with Pittsburgh and Xavier Ouellet injured.

Max Newton was added to the Penguins on a professional tryout contract (PTO) from ECHL Reading.

Penguins Scratches: Sam Poulin, Jamie Devane, Kyle Olson and Filip Hallander

Lines/Pairings:

Alex Nylander - Sam Houde - Valtteri Puustinen Drake Caggiula - Tyler Sikura - Lukas Svejkovsky Corey Andonovski - Raivis Ansons - Nathan Legare Ty Glover - Max Newton - Sean Josling

Jon Lizotte - Jack St. Ivany Chris Ortiz - Mitch Reinke Adam Smith - Josh Maniscalco

Filip Lindberg - Tommy Nappier

GAME SUMMARY

1st Period

3:01: SYR - (PP) Balcers, minor (tripping) 19:03: WBS - (PP) Puustinen, minor (high-sticking)

2nd Period

2:27: SYR - Barre-Boulet (10) - Myers, Carrick 9:44: WBS - Caggiula (8) - Svejkovsky, Sikura 19:21: SYR - Dumont (9) - Gonclaves, Carlile

3rd Period

3:51: WBS - Caggiula, minor (roughing) 3:51: WBS - Caggiula, minor (roughing) 3:51: SYR - Walcott, minor (roughing) 3:51: SYR - Walcott, minor (roughing) 6:09: SYR - (PP) Usau, minor (tripping) 12:28: SYR - Walcott (8) - Gonclaves, Carrick 15:08: SYR - (PP) Raddysh, minor (delay of game) 18:46: WBS - Nylander (15) - Puustinen, Caggiula

BOXSCORE

Syracuse     0 - 2 - 1 = 3 W-B/Scranton  0 - 1 - 1 = 2

Shots

Syracuse      7 - 12 - 9 = 28 W-B/Scranton  5 - 12 - 11 = 28

Goalies

SYR: Hugo Alnefelt (26 saves - 28 shots) WBS: Filip Lindberg (25 saves - 28 shots)

Power Play

SYR: 0-for-1 WBS: 0-for-3

Penalty Kill

SYR: 3-for-3 WBS: 1-for-1