AHL Syracuse Crunch

Week Five - Tarkki Triumphs

Published on October 31, 2011 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Syracuse Crunch News Release


While Finnish goaltender Iiro Tarkki may not be considered a rookie in the American Hockey League, due to the fact that he has played in over 100 Finnish Elite League games, he is playing professionally in North America for the first time this season with the Crunch. In his first two games, he was an unlucky loser, falling in a shootout to Rochester, 3-2, on October 18 and suffering the loss in a 4-3 overtime game against Lake Erie on October 21. But Tarkki's third start was a charm, as he earned not just his first professional North American win, but also his first shutout, stopping all 25 Monsters shots in a 7-0 victory at Lake Erie on October 26. It was the first shutout for the Crunch, since Timo Pielmeier stopped 30 Toronto Marlies shots on March 18, 2011 in a 1-0 win. Tarkki leads the Crunch in goals-against average (2.55) and save percentage (.912).

POWER PLAY CLICKING: Following the loss to Hershey on October 23, the Crunch's power play had converted just four times in the first six games, at a rate of 16.7%. However, in the last three games, the Crunch have scored five power-play goals on 14 opportunities. The power play is now ranked eighth in the league at 23.7%. Dan Sexton leads the way for the Crunch this season with four points (2g, 2a) on the man-advantage. Peter Holland and Nick Bonino are tied for second on the team with three power-play points.

GRIND LINE: The line of Mark Bell, Nathan Smith and Troy Bodie has been grinding out goals for the Crunch this past week. Over the past three games, the three players, all at least 6-feet, 2-inches tall, have combined for four goals and two assists. The trio was signed in the off-season by Anaheim. Bell spent the last two seasons in Europe playing for Zurich in the top Swiss league. Smith was also in Europe last season, playing for Augsburg of the German Elite League. Bodie began last season with Anaheim, but was claimed off of waivers by the Carolina Hurricanes.

UPCOMING OPPONENT:

ROCHESTER (BUFFALO SABRES): The Crunch will play a home-and-home series against the Rochester Americans this weekend. It will be the second and third times that the Crunch face their I-90 rivals. In their first meeting, on October 18 at the Blue Cross Arena, the Americans needed a late power-play goal in the third period to force overtime. Rochester came away with the 3-2 shootout win. Since then, the Americans have lost their last five games (0-2-2-1), but earning a point in three of the contests. Their latest setback was a 3-1 loss to the Senators in Binghamton on Saturday. Rochester is led offensively by Derek Whitmore, who has recorded eight points (4g, 4a) on the season. The goaltending duties have been split by David Leggio, who the Crunch faced, and Drew MacIntyre.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS:

PLAYERS TO SIGN AUTOGRAPHS AT "HERB" PHILIPSON'S: Crunch players Peter Holland and John Mitchell will be at "Herb" Philipson's in the Western Lights Plaza on Thursday, November 3.

Holland and Mitchell will be signing autographs from 6:00 p.m. -7:00 p.m. "Herb" Philipson's is located in the Western Lights Shopping Plaza at 4671 Onondaga Blvd. # 175. For directions, please call (315) 671-2200. Players are subject to change.

"Herb" Philipson's has been outfitting Central New York for the Great Outdoors since 1951. It is the area's premier retailer for outdoor and casual apparel, workwear and footwear, and sporting and surplus goods.

TACO BELL NIGHT AT THE CRUNCH: Taco Bell Night at the Crunch is set for Saturday, November 5 against Rochester.

Fans can stop into any participating Taco Bell location to receive one (1) coupon good for a discounted ticket of $12 for the Crunch's Saturday, November 5 game vs. Rochester. This cannot be combined with any other offers.

LOVE FOR LOCOMOTIV: The wives and girlfriends of the Syracuse Crunch will be selling "Love for Locomotiv" bracelets at the November 5 game against Rochester.

Red silicone bracelets debossed with the words "love for Lokomotiv" will be on sale for $10 at Saturday's game. Bracelets will be available at tables on both levels of the War Memorial as well as at Crunch merchandise stands on Montgomery and State Street.

Love for Locomotiv is a charity that was created in the wake of the September 7 plane crash that killed 44 people including crew members, hockey personnel, coaches and the players of the KHL's Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. Established by wives and girlfriends in the hockey community 100% of the proceeds will go to the foundation set up to honor the lost KHL team. Visit www.loveforlokomotiv.comfor more information.

CRUNCHABLES: Left wing J.F. Jacques recorded the Crunch's first shorthanded goal of the season on Friday, in the 5-3 loss to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. It was the Crunch's eighth game of the season. Last year, it took 18 games for the Crunch to record their first shorthanded goal of the season...Defenseman Brian O'Hanley has recorded three assists in two games for the Crunch...The Crunch have out-shot their opponents in eight of the nine games this season...The East Division is the only division to have all five of its teams over .500 on the season.

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American Hockey League Stories from October 31, 2011


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