Merelä’s double overtime goal lifts Syracuse to Game Three win over Rochester
Posted:
Updated:
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — The Syracuse Crunch surpassed the Rochester Americans, 2-1, in double overtime tonight at the Upstate Medical University Arena to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five North Division Semifinals series.
Waltteri Merelä potted the game-winner on a breakaway halfway through the second overtime period to lift the Crunch to victory.
Brandon Halverson stopped 33-of-34 shots in net for the Crunch. Amerks goaltender Devon Levi turned aside 60-of-62. Syracuse was held scoreless on six power play opportunities, while the penalty kill went a perfect 2-for-2.
After a scoreless opening frame, the Crunch were first on the board 11 minutes into the second period. Declan Carlile got the puck at the top of the right circle and sent a cross-zone feed for Alex Barré-Boulet to redirect in on the back door as he cut down the left wing. The Amerks tied the game late in the period when Isak Rosén was awarded a penalty shot.
The teams remained tied through the end of regulation and went to overtime for the second consecutive game. The game then went into a second overtime period where Merelä beat Levi one-on-one at the 10:18 mark.
The Crunch will look to close out the series in Game Four against the Amerks, on Saturday night in Syracuse.
