It’s the 30th anniversary season for the Syracuse Crunch. They played their first game of the season last night, a 4-3 win over the Utica Comets in overtime, and will host the Bridgeport Islanders for their extra special home opener.
Even for those fans who don’t care very much for the Crunch and are just focused on the Lightning, there’s still a wide open job on the Lightning’s third line that wasn’t solidified even before Tyler Motte’s injury. Once Vasilevskiy gets back, there’s no space to add a big name forward, so finding someone who impressed enough to get a chance — either on waivers like Eyssimont or on the Crunch — is their only way to go.