Photo: Micheline Veluvolu
Kale Clague scored the tiebreaking goal 3:55 into the third period as Rochester rallied for a 3-2 victory over Syracuse in the opener of their best-of-five North Division semifinal series on Friday night.
Game 2 is set for Sunday afternoon in Rochester.
After a scoreless first period, Conor Sheary and Dylan Duke gave the Crunch a 2-0 lead with goals in the opening 3:29 of the middle frame.
Brendan Warren and Riley Fiddler-Schultz answered quickly for the Amerks before Clague scored on a slapper from the left point just after a Rochester power play had expired.
Devon Levi stopped 25 of 27 shots to earn the win in net, while Brandon Halverson made 27 saves for the Crunch.
(Rochester leads series, 1-0)
Game 1 – Fri., Apr. 25 – ROCHESTER 3, Syracuse 2
Game 2 – Sun., Apr. 27 – Syracuse at Rochester, 3:05
Game 3 – Thu., May 1 – Rochester at Syracuse, 7:00
Game 4 – Sat., May 3 – Rochester at Syracuse, 7:00
Game 5 – Fri., May 9 – Syracuse at Rochester, 7:05
*if necessary… All times Eastern
