Three first-period goals carried the Syracuse Crunch over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 3-1 tonight at the Mohegan Sun Arena.

The Crunch won its fourth straight and collected six of six possible points during this weekend's three-in-three.



The Crunch jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first period thanks to goals from Keith Aulie, Cory Conacher and Tyler Johnson.



Aulie scored his first goal of the season at the 3:38 mark when he tipped a Ondrej Palat pass past Penguins netminder Jeff Zatkoff. Brett Connolly was credited with the second assist.



The Crunch added goals from Conacher and Johnson during a five-minute power play after Penguins defenseman Joe Morrow was assessed a major boarding penalty and game misconduct halfway through the first period. Conacher's goal at the 16:03 mark was assisted by Connolly and Palat. Johnson's power play tally at the 17:54 mark was assisted by Mark Barberio and Alex Killorn.



The Penguins put nine shots on goal during the second stanza but were unable to break through Crunch goaltender Dustin Tokarski. The Penguin's Zatkoff turned aside four Crunch shots during the scoreless middle frame.



The Penguins got on the scoreboard late in the third period with a power-play goal from Philippe Dupuis.



The Crunch will host the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in its next home game 7:30 p.m. Saturday. The first 1,500 fans will receive a Carol Grow schedule poster courtesy of Miller Lite and Molson Canadian.

Additionally, Saturday is Pink in the Rink night presented by SUNY Upstate Medical University and the first 1,000 fans will receive a pink t-shirt.



Notes: Four former Crunch players dressed for the Penguins in today's game: Riley Holzapfel, Trevor Smith, Philippe Dupuis and Dylan Reese…Aulie's first period goal was his first point of the season…Today's 3-1 victory is the first game the Crunch has won by more than a one-goal margin this season…Johnson leads all Crunch players with five goals.

- Story courtesy of the Syracuse Crunch