Syracuse Crunch Dominate Lehigh Valley Phantoms 7-2
The Crunch secured a decisive victory behind a hat trick from forward Jakob Pelletier on Thursday.
Updated on Oct. 25, 2026 in Hockey
The Syracuse Crunch defeated the Lehigh Valley Phantoms 7-2 in a high-scoring contest. Jakob Pelletier led the charge by recording his second career hat trick.
Why it matters
This victory improves the Syracuse Crunch season record to 4-4-1-0 as eleven different players contributed points in the win. The strong performance showcased offensive depth and effective special teams play throughout the matchup.
Syracuse converted on 2 of 8 power play opportunities and successfully defended 2 of 2 penalty kills. Forward Nick Abruzzese also reached a career milestone of 200 total AHL points during the game.
The players
Jakob Pelletier
He is a professional hockey player who recorded his second career hat trick during the game against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
Syracuse Crunch
They are a professional American Hockey League team based in Syracuse, New York, that holds a 4-4-1-0 record this season.
Nick Abruzzese
He is a professional hockey player who reached the milestone of 200 career AHL points during this game.
Lehigh Valley Phantoms
They are a professional American Hockey League team that hosted the Syracuse Crunch at the PPL Center.
The details
Jakob Pelletier netted three goals while teammate Gabriel Szturc added two. Goaltender Olivier Rodrigue stopped 21 of 23 shots to help secure the result against the Phantoms, whose goalie Carson Bjarnason stopped 21 of 28 shots.
Timeline
The Syracuse Crunch defeated the Lehigh Valley Phantoms 7-2 on October 24, 2026.
The Syracuse Crunch are scheduled to host the Hamilton Hammers on October 30, 2026.
Season Trajectory
This decisive road win helps stabilize the Crunch's position within the competitive early-season standings. The team looks to build on this momentum as they prepare to face the Hamilton Hammers in their upcoming matchup.
The victory provides a significant boost to the team's power play efficiency and overall goal differential. Eleven different players earning points suggests balanced scoring production that could influence future roster rotations.
The takeaway
The team's ability to capitalize on special teams opportunities proved decisive in this high-scoring victory. Maintaining this offensive variety will be essential as the squad enters the next phase of their schedule.
What happens next
The Syracuse Crunch will play the Hamilton Hammers on October 30, 2026.
Further reading
For more on local professional ice hockey, visit Syracuse Hockey.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WSTM.
