Syracuse Crunch Blank Charlotte Checkers 4-0, Extend Win Streak to Seven

Brandon Halverson and the Syracuse Crunch shut down the Charlotte Checkers 4-0 at Upstate Medical University Arena, a victory that pushed Syracuse to 30-16-3-1 and extended the Crunch’s winning streak to seven games - their longest run since 2019. Lucas Mercuri finished with two goals and the Crunch rolled into the second game of a weekend set with a commanding road-style performance at home.

Gabriel Szturc opened the scoring at 9:44 of the first period to give Syracuse an early lead. Mercuri struck later in the opening frame at 14:22 to make it 2-0 after 20 minutes, setting the tone before the middle period blow opened.

Syracuse made it 3-0 just 26 seconds into the second period on the power play. Mitchell Chaffee dug the puck out during a corner battle and sent it along the end boards to Jakob Pelletier. Pelletier centered a quick pass to Ethan Gauthier, who was all alone out front and finished the chance. Mercuri capped the scoring at 17:29 of the second, one-timing a feed from Dylan Duke in the right circle for his second goal of the night and a 4-0 advantage.

Jakob Pelletier and Tristan Allard each finished with two assists apiece, credited with plays that fueled Syracuse’s offense across the first two periods. Dylan Duke’s assist on Mercuri’s second goal and Chaffee’s forecheck that started the sequence to Gauthier were the kind of detail plays that produced definitive results for the Crunch.

Brandon Halverson, listed as #31, recorded the shutout for Syracuse. Charlotte’s goaltender Cooper Black made 35 saves in the loss, per the Checkers’ release. Syracuse “continued to stave off the Checkers during the final 20-minute period” to preserve the shutout and close out the first game of the weekend series.

The win leaves Syracuse on a seven-game streak and set up an immediate rematch; Syracuse hosts Charlotte again Saturday at 5 p.m. The Crunch improved to 30-16-3-1 while the Checkers are listed at 28-17-3-0, making the Saturday matinee a quick chance for Charlotte to respond and for Syracuse to stretch the streak even further.