Syracuse, NY (December 17, 2011) – J.F. Jacques recorded a hat trick but the Crunch’s comeback fell short, resulting in a 4-3 loss to the Adirondack Phantoms tonight at the War Memorial Arena.
The Phantoms had a 4-1 lead entering the final frame, two third-period goals from Jacques brought the Crunch within one but they were unable to find the equalizer.
The Phantoms took s 1-0 lead with 11:39 to play in the first period, Ben Holmstrom put a shot on net after winning a faceoff and Denis Hamel was able to knock the puck past Crunch goaltender Jeff Deslauriers for the game’s first score.
Phantoms extended their lead less than two minutes into the second stanza. Deslauriers was able to make an initial save after a Phantoms’ shot ricocheted off the post but Andrew Rowe was able to stuff in a rebound making it 2-0.
Garrett Klotz made it 3-0 Phantoms with his second goal of the season 4:12 into the second period. Klotz’s goal was assisted by Cullen Eddy and Tyler Brown.
The Crunch got on the board late in the second period with a power-play goal from Jacques. Jacques one-timed a Peter Holland feed to beat Phantoms netminder Jason Bacashihua and make it 4-1 at the end of two periods.
Holmstrom was awarded a penalty shot to open the final frame, which he converted, for the eventual game-winner, to make it 4-1 Phantoms at the 2:25 mark of the third.
Jacques added two more tallies at the 6:31 and 10:20 mark of the final frame to complete the hat trick and bring the Crunch within one.
The Crunch’s next game is December 21 when they travel to Hershey to take on the Bears. They return home to the War Memorial on December 28 for a clash with the Springfield Falcons.
Crunchables: J.F. Jacques has six points in his last three games…Tonight was the second time this year a Crunch player recorded a hat trick against Adirondack (Kyle Palmieri on Oct. 15, 2011)…With two assists tonight Patrick Maroon now leads the team with 18
