New additions will spark Syracuse Crunch on winning opening weekend – The Hockey Writers – Syracuse Crunch

The Tampa Bay Lightning made some significant roster changes this offseason, and that trend has carried over to the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate Syracuse Crunch. These additions helped the Crunch defeat the Utica Comets 5-0 on Friday night (October 11) and secure a 2-1 shootout victory over the Belleville Senators.

Syracuse has just 10 regulars from a team that finished third in the North Division last season. Gage Goncalves, who was injured and missed the first two games, led the team with 58 points (13 goals, 45 assists) in 2023-24 and is one of those returning players for the 2024-25 season. As of the 2020-2021 season, the 2024 AHL All-Star team has accumulated 145 points in 212 Crunch games. He is one of 13 players to reach 100 assists in the Crunch; his 102 assists rank just outside the top ten in team history.

The addition of free agents will help strengthen the squad. Cibi Bisson, Steven Santini and Derrick Pouliot round out a strong group of defenders. Jesse Ylonen, who spent all of last season with the Montreal Canadiens, will be the scoring guard. In his previous career with the Laval Rocket in the 2022-2023 season, he scored 32 points in 39 games.

The team will also rely on some of the younger players in the Lightning organization. Dylan Duke will join the team for the full season after playing in a handful of playoff games last season as his season ended at the University of Michigan. Niko Huuhtanen will also join the Crunch for the full season. He spent the regular season in the Finnish Liiga with Jukurit before coming to North America to finish the season with the Crunch.

The new additions also provide an NHL experience

While the youth were served over the weekend, veterans with NHL experience should help the Crunch in the long run. Ylonen, 24, appeared in 59 games for the Canadiens last season, scoring four goals and eight points with a plus-2 rating while averaging 10:14 of ice time per game. The 200-pound winger has played in 111 games in his career, all with Montreal, over four seasons since making his NHL debut on May 12, 2021 against the Edmonton Oilers. Ylonen has recorded 12 goals and 29 points throughout his NHL career. The Scottsdale, Arizona native signed his first NHL contract with Montreal on March 26, 2020. He was originally selected by the Canadiens in the second round of the 2018 NHL Draft, 35th overall.

Santini, a native of Bronxville, New York, has played in 123 NHL games in his career between the New Jersey Devils, Nashville Predators and St. Louis Blues. He was originally selected by New Jersey in the second round of the 2013 NHL Draft, 42nd overall. He appeared in 64 games for the AHL’s Ontario Reign last season, scoring five goals and 20 points.

New players push you to victory

Three Crunch players scored their first career or AHL goals in the opening game at Utica Stadium last night. Rookie defenseman Dyllan Gill led Syracuse to his first two career goals. He scored the first goal in the first six minutes and the second goal four minutes before the end of the third period. Huuhtanen scored his first AHL goal to give the Crunch a 2-0 lead, and Duke scored his first professional goal in the second quarter.

Goaltender Brandon Halverson stopped all 26 shots he faced. With this victory, the Michigan native secured his second career break.

On Saturday night (October 12), rookie Joel Teasdale tied the score in the second quarter before Jaydon Dureau scored the winning goal in the second round of shootouts. Teasdale spent last season with the Iowa Wild on a one-year AHL contract, while Dureau spent most of the season with the Orlando Solar Bears, the Lightning’s ECHL affiliate, scoring 25 points in 34 games.

Crunch goaltender Matt Tomkins earned the win, stopping 30 of 31 shots and all three of his field goal attempts.

Related: What Geekie making the opening night lineup means for the Lightning

These new additions will keep Crunch on the winning track as they travel across Canada next weekend. They will play two games against Laval Rocket on Friday (October 18) and Saturday (October 19). On Sunday (October 20), the Crunch will travel to Belleville for a rematch with the Senators.