Abruzzese, Pelletier Fuel Crunch as Gillies' 27 Saves Seals Win

Jon Gillies stymied the Lehigh Valley Phantoms with 27 saves as the Syracuse Crunch skated to a 4-1 victory at PPL Center in Allentown on Jan. 17, 2026. Nick Abruzzese chipped in a goal and an assist, while Jakob Pelletier set up two scores to fuel Syracuse’s attack and help the Crunch build a decisive lead.

Syracuse broke through with a pair of second-period goals that swung momentum in its favor. Anthony Richard provided Lehigh Valley’s lone marker late in the second period, cutting into the lead, but a late third-period insurance tally and an empty-net goal closed the door on the Phantoms’ comeback attempt. Gillies faced 28 shots and worked steadily through stretches of sustained pressure, making high-percentage saves that preserved the margin.

Abruzzese’s goal and assist underscored his role as a primary play-driver for the Crunch. Pelletier’s two helpers reinforced Syracuse’s ability to generate secondary chances and create traffic in front of the net. Those contributions complemented Gillies’ goaltending to produce a complete game effort from key pieces on both ends of the ice.

Defensively, Syracuse limited Grade-A chances and forced the Phantoms to work for shots from distance, a strategy that suited Gillies’ rebound control and directional saves. Lehigh Valley’s Anthony Richard provided a timely response in the second, but the Phantoms were unable to sustain the pressure needed to flip the scoreboard late in the game. The late insurance goal and empty-netter were symptomatic of a road team that finished stronger in the final frame.

Beyond the box score, the result matters for player development and organizational momentum. Gillies’ veteran presence in net provides a stabilizing influence for Syracuse’s younger skaters, while Abruzzese and Pelletier continue to stake claims as impact forwards capable of driving offense at key moments. For fans in Allentown, the game offered a clear example of how goaltending and secondary scoring combine to decide tight AHL contests.

Looking ahead, Syracuse will seek to carry this road performance into its next stretch of games, leaning on Gillies’ steadiness and the playmaking of Abruzzese and Pelletier. For Lehigh Valley, the focus will be on tightening defensive reads and finding more sustained offense to convert chances into goals. This result is a small but meaningful chapter in both clubs’ seasons as they fine-tune rosters and build toward the tougher tests on the AHL calendar.