Photo: Grant Faint / The Image Bank / Getty Images
The Syracuse Crunch are set to face the Rochester Americans tonight in a crucial Game Three of their American Hockey League playoff series. The Crunch trail two games to none in the best-of-five series after losing 4-0 on Sunday (April 27). Syracuse has not scored in over 96 minutes of game time, increasing the pressure on the team to perform.
The series began with a narrow 3-2 victory for the Americans, who rallied with three unanswered goals, including a third-period game-winner by Kale Clague. According to Amerks.com, Riley Fiddler-Schultz and Brendan Warren also scored, with Fiddler-Schultz contributing a goal and an assist. Amerks head coach Michael Leone praised his players, stating, "Those guys are gamers."
The Crunch's goaltender, Brandon Halverson, made 27 saves in the opening game but was outperformed by Rochester's Devon Levi, who recorded 25 saves for his third career playoff win. The Crunch now face a must-win situation to keep their season alive, with the face-off scheduled for 7 p.m. tonight in Syracuse.