Where They Stand
The Sharks had lost four in a row before defeating the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Friday, 4-2. With two wins in their last 14 games, Worcester las slipped to 31-33-4-6 on the season and out of contention for a playoff spot. Their 72 points are fourth place in the Atlantic Division and 13th in the Eastern Conference. Worcester's rival Providence, already Atlantic Division champs, clinched the Eastern Conference title with a 5-3 win Friday vs. Springfield.
While the Bruins' win Friday prevents Syracuse from a chance at first place in the Eastern Conference, the Crunch are closer to the second seed by virtue of Springfield's loss. At 95 points, Syracuse is just two behind Springfield with two games remaining. The Falcons, however, have just one game left, at Adirondack Saturday. The Crunch currently hold the tie breaker with the Falcons. Meanwhile, a Crunch victory or a Binghamton loss would seal the East Division for Syracuse, leading the Senators by three points.
A full breakdown of playoff-clinching scenarios is available at
The AHL Playoff Primer.
Scouting Report
The Sharks are led by center Bracken Kearns (21g-25a-46pts), right wing Daniil Tarasov (12g-13a-25pts), and left wing John McCarthy (9g-16a-25pts). Alex Stalock and Harri Sateri have split time in goal for the Sharks. Stalock has a 16-16-3 record in 36 games and Sateri has a 14-21-3 in 39 games.
For the Crunch,
J.T. Brown led the way in the first match with the Sharks, posting four points, including a hat trick.
Brett Connolly had three assists in that game as well. Connolly has four points (3g, 1a) in two games since returning from the NHL.
Ondrej Palat,
Tyler Johnson and
J.P. Cote are all tied for the AHL's active lead for plus-minus, at plus-26
Last Meeting: November 25
J.T. Brown's four points, including the Crunch's first hat trick of the year, led Syracuse over Worcester, 6-1, Sunday, Nov. 25, at DCU Center. Equaling their largest margin of victory of the season at the time, the Crunch extended their franchise record to nine consecutive road victories and-combined with a Springfield loss-moved into sole possession of first place in the Eastern Conference. The Crunch scored on their first two shots, both tallies from Brown, and had a 3-0 lead at 6:16 of the first after
Tyler Johnson's first of two. Bracken Kearns got one back for the Sharks before the first ended, but a five-minute power play in the second period allowed Syracuse to regain a three-goal edge on Johnson's league-leading 13th of the season.
Dmitry Korobov blasted his second of the year on a third-period power play, and Brown completed the hat trick with under three minutes left.
Brett Connolly had three assists,
Philip-Michael Devos had two, and
Jared Nightingale had an assist, a fight and a plus-1.
Dustin Tokarski made 25 saves for his eighth win and dropped his goals-against average to 1.89.
