For the majority of the game, the Syracuse Crunch played an almost perfect road playoff game. They kept the puck in Cleveland’s zone for much of the game. They earned four power plays. Brandon Halverson stopped 23 shots while the defense in front of him kept the Monsters’ talented forwards at bay. Unfortunately, one bad turnover led to a Justin Pearson shorthanded goal and Jet Greaves was perfect in next as the home team took Game 1 by a score of 1-0.
Greaves, who had 28 saves on the night, was the star of the show, constantly thwarting the Crunch, especially at the end of the game when Syracuse had a 6-on-4 power play with Stefan Matteau in the penalty box.