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A large chunk of the Syracuse Crunch's backbone will be missing tonight as an injury will force Syracuse Crunch defenseman Radko Gudas, right, to miss Game 1 of the Calder Cup Finals against Grand Rapids.

(Team Shred)

The Grand Rapids Griffins won't have to Fear the Beard this weekend.

Syracuse Crunch coach Rob Zettler confirmed the obvious on Saturday morning when he said that battering ram defenseman Radko Gudas will not play in tonight's Game 1 of the Calder Cup Finals in the War Memorial.

Zettler indicated that Gudas is also likely out for Game 2 on Sunday. Gudas suffered a leg or knee injury in the closing minutes of the Crunch's Eastern Conference series-clinching win over Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Saturday.

Gudas has not skated all week, although as he watched practices in workout clothes he didn't show any signs of a wrap or splint on the injured area.

"We'd prefer to have him in the lineup. I'm sure the other team would prefer to not have him in the lineup,'' Zettler said. "We have a lot of guys who can do the job. I'm very confident of the guys who can step in there.''

Zettler said he's leaning toward dressing 12 forwards and six defensemen, instead of the 11-7 breakdown he's been using.

The 12th forward would likely by rookie grinder Cedric Paquette, who would team up with Philippe Paradis and Philip-Michael Devos on a sandpaper fourth line.

The Crunch has been off for a week and will need every drop of its energy to set the tone in what should be a sold-out War Memorial.

Grand Rapids had only a day of travel and then a full day of practice to prepare after ousting Oklahoma City in the Western Conference finals on Wednesday. Many of the Griffins have never played in the War Memorial, a smaller rink that often vexes skill teams who come in and try to navigate its quirky dimensions.

The Griffins are 11-7 in this postseason, having played the equivalent of a full series more than the Crunch (11-1). Syracuse is the first team to reach the Finals with just one loss since Rochester (11-1) in 1996.

"I sense good energy right now,'' Zettler said Saturday morning. "It a good feeling.''

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DeKeyser, Blashill, and Hoggan Interviewed (audio only left channel, fill over to right)