The scoring for the Crunch came in a hurry. A scrum in front of the Lake Erie goal mouth :13 seconds into the game led to a quick tally for Syracuse center Derek MacKenzie.

Lake Erie answered the Syracuse tally with a power play goal by defenseman Johnny Boychuk. A slapper from the slot beat Crunch goaltender Adam Munro and helped notch the game at 1-1. The marker is Boychuk’s first of the season and his first as a Monster. Chris Stewart and Matt Hussey were credited for the helpers on the score. Stewart has scored four points (2g, 2a) in his last four games while Hussey has posted two points in as many games (1g, 1a).

“Chris Stewart fed me the puck on a nice pass and I walked in and had a clear shot,” said Boychuk.

A second period penalty shot by MacKenzie put Syracuse up a tally at the 6:21 mark.

The Crunch posted another goal at the 8:03 mark on a slap shot by defenseman Clay Wilson.

The Monsters made a push to close the gap as left wing Cody McLeod scored on a pass from Eric Healey at the 10:23 mark. The goal marks McLeod’s first tally since Nov. 11 against Toronto. Healey has posted six points (1g, 5a) in his last eight games.

In the middle of the third period, the Crunch pulled away as center Trevor Frischmon posted an unassisted marker (8:29), followed by a deflection tally from Syracuse winger Jeffrey Szwez at the 9:49 mark.

Lake Erie goaltender Jason Bacashihua stopped 42 of 47 shots on the night.

“They (Bacashihua and Tyler Weiman) give us a chance to win every night. However it needs to be a team effort to win games,” said Monsters head coach Joe Sacco.

Crunch netminder Munro turned away 17 of the 19 shots he saw.

The Monsters return to action Wednesday in Grand Rapids against the Griffins. They come back to The Q for a two-game homestand against Rockford on Saturday and Sunday.

Sights and Sounds
View photos	Watch Sacco Interview	Boychuk Interview
Three Stars
D. MacKenzie (SYR)	Johnny Boychuk (LEM)	Clay Wilson (SYR)
Quote, Unquote
“If we did not have Bacashihua and Weiman in goal, we wouldn’t have as many wins as we do. We are happy to have guys like them to back us up each night.” - Monsters defender Johnny Boychuk | More game quotes