SYRACUSE -- A goal each by Jeff LoVecchio and Tom Sestito a minute and a half apart towards the end of the first period was the only offense in a 1-1 game until Adam McQuaid and Jordan Knackstedt scored in the final two rounds of the shootout to push Providence to a 2-1 win over the Crunch Friday night in front of 4,738 fans at the War Memorial at Oncenter in the first meeting between these two clubs since March 18, 2001.

LoVecchio opened the scoring with a shorthanded goal at the 13:26 mark of the first when he skated down the wing with speed and snapped off a quick wrist shot that beat Kevin Lalande to the short-side.

The Crunch struck back quickly on the power play to tie the game when Sestito drove the net and was able to slide the puck between Bruins’ goalie Dany Sabourin’s legs before crashing into the net. That goal broke a season-high 0-for-33 slide for Syracuse with the man-advantage.

The second period was free-flowing with very few whistles. Despite the high tempo of play, it was a mostly defensive period as the teams only had 15 combined shots.

Providence brought some pressure early in the third, but the Syracuse defense was up to the task. Lalande made some key saves as the Crunch got outshot by a 13-7 margin in the third.

Providence’s Jeff Penner went off for tripping at 15:28, giving the Crunch a late power play, however they could not capitalize and Syracuse saw overtime for the second straight contest.

Again, the Crunch earned an opportunity late in the overtime period when Bruins’ Jamie Arniel took a hooking penalty with just over two minutes left. On the ensuing power play, Crunch fans thought their team had won it when Pascal Pelletier’s one-timer from the right circle clanged off the post with one minute to go.

Brent Regner scored Syracuse’s only goal of the shootout in the third round, but McQuaid and Knackstedt’s bids in the final two rounds proved to be enough as the Bruins edged the Crunch, 2-1.

Lalande made 31 saves for the second straight game and earned second star honors.

Despite the heartbreaking loss, fans' spirits couldn't have been dampened much as on Friday the team extended its lease with the War Memorial by ten years. A big relief for the fans, who can enjoy the Crunch at least through the 2018-2019 season.

CRUNCHABLES: Brent Regner has scored both times he has participated in the shootout…Pelletier’s assist was his first point in five games…Syracuse has been outshot in 13 of 15 games so far this year…The Crunch’s next three games are on the road before returning to the War Memorial at Oncenter on November 21 vs. Hartford.

Courtesy: Syracuse Crunch