The Syracuse Crunch is headed to the Eastern Conference semifinals of the American Hockey League playoffs. The Crunch, the local affiliate of the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning, wrapped up an impressive season 45-27-3 before sweeping the Portland Pirates 3-0 in the quarterfinals.

Now, Syracuse awaits its second-round opponent. On Friday, the Crunch will either hit the road for a matchup with the second-seeded Springfield Falcons or host the fifth-seeded Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Should Syracuse draw the Penguins advance, the game would take place in Crunch’s home arena: the War Memorial at The Oncenter on 800 S. State St.

The Crunch is the sixth AHL team to play in Syracuse and the first since the Syracuse Firebirds did so in 1980. Before that, the last hockey-related event to take place in the city was the filming of “Slap Shot” in 1977.

The team that now calls the War Memorial home bounced around before landing in Syracuse. The Crunch began as the Hamilton Canucks in 1992, representing the Vancouver Canucks. Two years later, the Canucks moved to Central New York and were renamed the Crunch by a public vote. The Crunch remained loyal to Vancouver, British Columbia, until 2000, when it became the Columbus Blue Jackets’ affiliate.

After representing the Blue Jackets for 10 years, Syracuse switched to the Anaheim Ducks for two years before finally settling on the Lightning this season — a season coincided with great success. The Syracuse Crunch won its second division title this year, with the first coming in 2001-02.

Tickets for semifinal home games range from $19-$23 and can be purchased at the Crunch Box Office at the War Memorial or by calling (315) 473-4444.

Potential playoff schedules

The outcome of the Providence Bruins-Hershey Bears game on Wednesday will determine who and when the Crunch plays in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal. Here are the two possible scenarios:

(Syracuse-Springfield) If Providence defeats Hershey on Wednesday:

Game 1 – Friday, May 10 – Syracuse at Springfield, 7 p.m.
Game 2 – Saturday, May 11 – Syracuse at Springfield, 7 p.m.
Game 3 – Wednesday, May 15 – Springfield at Syracuse, 7 p.m.
Game 4 – Friday, May 17 – Springfield at Syracuse, 7 p.m.
*Game 5 – Saturday, May 18 – Springfield at Syracuse, 7 p.m.
*Game 6 – Tuesday, May 21 – Syracuse at Springfield, 7 p.m.
*Game 7 – Wednesday, May 22 – Syracuse at Springfield, 7 p.m.

(Syracuse-Wilkes-Barre/Scranton) If Hershey defeats Providence on Wednesday:

Game 1 – Friday, May 10 – Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at Syracuse, 7 p.m.
Game 2 – Saturday, May 11 – Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at Syracuse, 7 p.m.
Game 3 – Wednesday, May 15 – Syracuse at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, 7:05 p.m.
Game 4 – Friday, May 17 – Syracuse at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, 7:05 p.m.
*Game 5 – Saturday, May 18 – Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at Syracuse, 7:00 p.m.
*Game 6 – Monday, May 20 – Syracuse at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, 7:05 p.m.
*Game 7 – Wednesday, May 22 – Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at Syracuse, 7 p.m.
*if necessary

— Compiled by staff writer, Danny Cuneo, dacuneo@syr.edu

Published on May 9, 2013 at 12:23 am