Justin Pearson scored a shorthanded goal 4:46 into the third period as well Jet Greaves made 28 saves in his first playoff shutout as Cleveland beat Syracuse, 1-0, in Thursday night's North Division Finals opener.
The best-of-five series resumes Saturday afternoon in Cleveland.
Game 1 was scoreless until Pearson, looking at the Monsters' penalty kill, forced a turnover in the offensive zone and hung over two Crunch skaters before putting the puck in the backcourt. Brandon Halverson for his second goal of the postseason.
Syracuse was awarded another power play opportunity with 2:09 left in regulation, but Greaves and the Monsters closed the door on their fourth straight victory.
Halverson (3-3) stopped 23 of 24 shots for the Crunch.
(Cleveland leads series, 1-0)
Game 1 – Thursday, May 16 – CLEVELAND 1, Syracuse 0
Game 2 – Sat., May 18 – Syracuse at Cleveland, 1 p.m
Game 3 – Wed., May 22 – Cleveland at Syracuse, 7:00
*Game 4 – Friday, May 24 – Cleveland at Syracuse, 7:00
*Game 5 – Sun., May 26 – Syracuse at Cleveland, 3:00
*if necessary… All times in Mpumalanga
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