AHL Syracuse Crunch

\'Pic' of the Litter

Published on December 1, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Syracuse Crunch News Release


Having been a scratch in nine of Columbus' first 15 games after starting the season with the Blue Jackets, Crunch left wing Alexandre Picard was happy when he was assigned to Syracuse on November 9, simply because of the fact that he knew he was going to get to play more.

After shaking off the rust with one assist in his first seven games, Picard has registered and is currently riding a three-game point scoring streak, with four points (2g, 2a) over that span. His tally on November 23 vs. Binghamton was the Crunch's only marker in that contest and his first tally of the season.

Picard nabbed an assist, was a plus-2 and was very physical in a 5-1 win over Toronto on November 28. He notched his second of the year, scoring on a redirection of an Andrey Plekhanov point shot on November 29 @ Albany.

A native of Les Saules, Quebec, the 6'2, 206 lb. Picard was drafted by Columbus in the first round, eighth overall, in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. In 153 career games with the Crunch, Picard has recorded 35 goals, 49 assists and 256 penalty minutes.

CRUNCH OFFENSE COMES ALIVE: Before last weekend, to say the Crunch offense was struggling would have been a huge understatement.

In the previous four games before last weekend, the Crunch had only registered two goals in regulation during that span. The other goal was awarded after a 1-0 shootout win in which the club was held scoreless through 65 minutes of play.

During those four games, the power play was a dismal 1-for 22 and the team only won one of those four contests. The top five Crunch leading scorers were held to just three assists over that stretch.

Since then, the Syracuse offense has been sparked and combined for eight goals over its last two games. The Crunch offense broke out with a 5-1 pasting of Toronto at the War Memorial at Oncenter on Friday night. Four players (MacDonald, MacKenzie, Pineault and York) recorded multiple-point games that night and Syracuse as a team was a plus-20.

Although they battled back from a 3-1 deficit to tie the game, those three markers weren't enough as the Crunch were beaten by a 6-3 count at the hands of the Albany River Rats on Saturday at the Times Union Center.

Alexandre Picard (1g, 1a) and Derek MacKenzie (0g, 2a) each tallied two points and rookie Nikita Filatov broke an eight-game goal-scoring drought with his second period marker in the losing effort.

THIS WEEK'S OPPONENTS:

SAN ANTONIO RAMPAGE (PHOENIX COYOTES): The Crunch makes its way to the lone star state for a Texas two-step this week that begins Thursday night against San Antonio. The Crunch were 0-1-0-1 against the Rampage last season and head to the AT&T Center for the first of two overall meetings between these two clubs this season. The team's will face-off later in the year on March 27 at the War Memorial at Oncenter. Tom Sestito was tied for the Crunch team lead in the series last year with three points (1g, 2a). Former Rampage member Bill Thomas led San Antonio and all players with five points (3g, 2a).

HOUSTON AEROS (MINNESOTA WILD): The Crunch head to Houston on Saturday for the second and final meeting with the Aeros this season. The Crunch took the first meeting between these two clubs, 2-1, on the strength of third period goals by Jonathan Sigalet and Mike York. York's tally came with just 2:25 remaining in regulation. Dan LaCosta had 31 saves for Syracuse, while Houston's Barry Brust denied 34 of 36 Crunch bids. The Crunch are 5-3-1 all-time against the Aeros.

PRACTICE SCHEDULE: The Crunch's weekly schedule is as follows:

Tuesday, December 2 10:30 Practice @ War Memorial at Oncenter

Wednesday, December 3 Travel Day

Thursday, December 4 12:15 p.m. Practice @ San Antonio

Game vs. San Antonio 8 p.m.

Friday, December 5 Travel to Houston

Saturday, December 6 12:15 p.m. Practice @ Houston

Game @ Houston 8:35 p.m.

Sunday, December 7 Travel Day

CRUNCHABLES: Nikita Filatov broke and 11-game goal-scoring drought with his second period tally Saturday...The Crunch lost for the first time Saturday when scoring at least two goals...Craig MacDonald has a point-scoring steak of three games (2g, 2a)...Syracuse matched a season-high with three goals allowed in one period (third period), Saturday night in Albany...The Crunch gave up at least six goals for the third time this season Saturday night...Dan Smith's third period goal Friday was his first of the season and first goal since January 2, 2008 @ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, a span of 63 games...Aaron Rome's assist Friday night was the 100th point of his AHL career...The Crunch had four (4) players record multiple-point games Friday (MacDonald, MacKenzie, Pineault, York)...The Crunch are 7-2-0-0 when they are outshot by their opponents.

Check out the Syracuse Crunch Statistics

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American Hockey League Stories from December 1, 2008


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