The Syracuse Crunch fell to the Toronto Marlies in overtime tonight, 4-3 at Ricoh Coliseum in front of 2,733 fans.

The Syracuse Crunch came out looking to close out their best-of-seven North Division series vs. Toronto on Friday night and advance to the next round in the Calder Cup Playoffs.

They started out on the right track when, with Toronto’s Kris Newbury in the box for hooking at the 13:30 mark, Tom Sestito tipped in a Marc Methot point shot past Scott Clemmensen to give the Crunch a 1-0 lead.

With their season on the line, the Marlies struck back with two goals in a span of 2:05.

Brent Aubin fired a wrister over the shoulder of Karl Goehring right off a face-off at the 17:32 mark to tie the game. Then, on a delayed penalty, John Mitchelll took a pass from Jay Harrison and snapped one from the slot past Goehring to make it 2-1 in favor of Toronto.

The Crunch did not let that deter them as they answered back to tie the game just 24 seconds later.

Alexandre Picard skated in down the left side and found a streaking Gilbert Brule in the slot. Brule collected the puck and rifled a shot past Clemmensen to tie the game at 2-2.

Toronto took the lead back halfway through the second stanza when David Ling skated wide down the right side and banked a shot in off of Goehring to give the Marlies a 3-2 advantage.

The Crunch showed the comeback spirit they have displayed throughout the playoffs and tied the game 2:17 into the third frame.

Nate DiCasmirro threw the puck towards the net and the disc ricocheted out to the waiting stick of Clay Wilson. Wilson stepped into a shot that sailed past Clemmensen to tie the game at 3-3.

Each team had some chances the rest of the way, but neither could pot the go-ahead goal as the score remained tied at the end of regulation.

Overtime was thrilling hockey as both teams had power play opportunities but could not convert.

But, on this night it was Toronto’s turn to score in the extra session as Bates Battaglia punched in a centering feed from Kris Newbury with just 1:25 left to play in overtime to give the Marlies a 4-3 win.

The series shifts back to Syracuse for Game Six tomorrow night at the War Memorial at Oncenter at 7:30 p.m. as the Crunch have a chance to end the series on home ice.
(Courtesy Syracuse Crunch)