Mark Hartigan and Matthias Trattnig converted their shootout attempts to help Syracuse to a 3-2 win over St. John’s at Mile One Stadium on Thursday night.
Ex-Crunch forward David Ling broke a scoreless tie 5:50 into the second period to give the Maple Leafs a 1-0 lead in their 14th and final home opener in Newfoundland. The team will be moving to Toronto in 2005-06.
Jeremy Reich tied it for Syracuse, but Nathan Perrott put the Leafs back in front 29 seconds into the third. Greg Mauldin scored his first professional goal for the Crunch just 1:24 later.
Syracuse’s Pascal Leclaire finished with 30 saves before denying four of five St. John’s attempts in the shootout. Mikael Tellqvist stopped 32 shots for the Maple Leafs.
The teams meet again Saturday night.