Crunch roll past Wolf Pack

SYRACUSE, N.Y. >> The Syracuse Crunch rolled past the Hartford Wolf Pack, 3-1, Wednesday at the XL Center.

Gemel Smith recorded a multi-point game with two assists, while Mitchell Stephens, Dennis Yan and Taylor Raddysh all found the back of the net for the Crunch. The win advances the team to 9-6-3-0 on the season.

Goaltender Scott Wedgewood turned aside 25-of-26 shots in victory between the pipes for the Crunch. Igor Shesterkin stopped 21-of24 in net for the Wolf Pack. The Crunch were unable to convert on two power play opportunities, but the penalty kill was a perfect 4-for4.

After a scoreless first period, the Crunch opened scoring with two goals just 51 seconds apart in the middle stanza. At the 14:17 mark, Smith battled for the puck along the end boards and sent it out front for Stephens to fire in. Alex BarreBoulet earned the secondary assist. Less than a minute later, Otto Somppi centered the puck for Yan to chip into a yawning net. Dominik Masin recorded a point on the play.

Syracuse built a threegoal lead 4:47 into the final frame. Ben Thomas skated the puck down the left wing and passed over to Smith in the slot. He dished a backdoor feed for Raddysh to finish off.

The Wolf Pack stole one back 30 seconds later when Lias Andersson stuffed one home with the help of Phil Di Giuseppe and Steven Fogarty during a scramble in front. Syracuse halted the late comeback effort and served Hartford their first regulation loss on home ice this season.

The Crunch and Wolf Pack rematch in Syracuse this Saturday at 7 p.m.