Rough opening period denies Griffins in first shot at Calder Cup

The Syracuse Crunch made it clear immediately in Game Five of the American Hockey League Calder Cup Championship series, it was far from finished.

A goal 17-seconds in sent the host Crunch on in its way to a 5-0 first period cushion and eventually a 5-1 win at the Onondaga County War Memorial Arena against the visiting Grand Rapids Griffins on Saturday (June 10, 2017).

As a result, the Crunch denied the Griffins on its first of three possible chances to claim the Calder Cup. Despite, the loss, the Griffins hold a 3-2 edge in the series with Games Six and/if needed, Seven on home ice.

Goaltending played a huge part for the home team as Mike McKenna was unbeatable in the opening 20 minutes allowing his team to open the huge lead despite an 18-12 edge in shots for the visitors.

At the other end, Jared Coreau was relieved for the first time since the start of the post season, heading to the bench following the fifth goal scored in the final minute of the opening period. The good news for the guests was a perfect 19-save performance through the final two periods for Eddie Pasquale in his first AHL playoff game since 2012 when he was a member of the St. John’s Ice Caps.

Kevin Lynch found the mesh first just 17 seconds in with other first period goals supplied by Mathieu Brodeur, Byron Froese, Cory Conacher and Ben Thomas.

The only other goal came from Ben Street who triggered his fifth of the post season for the Griffins just shy of the six-minute mark of the third period.

Game Six will be played back at the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids on Tuesday (June 13) with a seventh and deciding game scheduled for the following night, if needed.