The Syracuse Crunch continued their dominance against the Binghamton Senators in 2011-12, improving to 4-0-1-0 against their rivals to the south with a 5-2 win at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena on Friday night. Brandon McMillan, Luca Caputi and Mathieu Carle led the Crunch with a goal and an assist each. Marco Cousineau, making his AHL debut, stopped 35 shots en route to the victory. Trent Yawney was behind the Crunch bench for the first game as associate head coach
Binghamton started off the scoring on their first power play of the game. Stephane Da Costa’s wrist shot from the slot was deflected in front by Andre Petersson, and past Cousineau at 8:32 of the first period. Corey Locke also earned an assist on the play.
The Crunch responded shortly after at the 10:00 mark. McMillan and Caputi combined on the forecheck to steal the puck in the offensive zone. Caputi fed J.F. Jacques in front for his 12th goal of the season and a 1-1 game.
The first period ended tied at one, with Cousineau making nine saves and Mike McKenna stopping 11 Crunch shots.
The Crunch’s offense came alive in the second period with four goals. After rushing the puck up from his defensive zone, Carle dropped it off to Patrick Maroon, who roofed a wrist shot for his 16th goal of the season at 7:17 of the second period, giving the Crunch a 2-1 lead.
With 8:35 remaining in the middle frame, Carle scored a goal from the left point through a screen. Dan Sexton and John Mitchell earned assists to put the Crunch up 3-1. Just 2:15 later, Caputi stole a puck in the offensive zone, and scored his first goal as a member of the Crunch, giving them a 4-1 lead.
McMillan finished the second-period scoring with 1:10 remaining on the power play. Andrew Gordon fed McMillan in front for his fifth of the season.
The Crunch continue their seven-game road trip with a game in Albany, Saturday night against the Devils at 7 pm. They complete the trip in Worcester against the Sharks on Sunday at 3 pm. The Crunch return home on Friday, January 20 to take on the Norfolk Admirals.
Crunchables: Andrew Gordon made his Crunch debut…Luca Caputi has a goal and four assists in four games with the Crunch...The Crunch have scored four goals in the second period in back-to-back games in Binghamton. It’s the third time this season the Crunch have scored four goals in a period…The Crunch won for the second time this season when allowing the first goal…Robin Lehner, returning from suspension relieved Mike McKenna to start the third period.
Courtesy: Syracuse Crunch
