AHL Syracuse Crunch

Bobkov Remains Unbeaten in Regulation

Published on April 9, 2012 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Syracuse Crunch News Release


With Iiro Tarkki playing a majority of games down the stretch, rookie Igor Bobkov has had to be patient regarding his playing time. But when he has been inserted into the starting goaltending position, he has produced points for the Crunch. After going 2-0-0 at the end of last season in his first taste of pro hockey, Bobkov has picked up where he left off, after joining the Crunch following the end of his season with Kingston of the OHL. In three games with the Crunch in 2011-12, Bobkov has gone 2-0-1 with a 1.93 goals-against average and a .933 save percentage. All three games he has played in have gone into a shootout, where the 6-foot, 6-inch Russian has been stellar. He went a perfect 4-for-4 in the Crunch's 5-4 win versus St. John's on March 23. He stopped three-of-four in a 4-3 loss to Rochester the next night. Most recently, he stopped three of four shooters in the Crunch's 3-2 win against Hershey this past Saturday. Bobkov is in the top 10 in the AHL with a .833 save percentage in the shootout this season, having stopped 10 of 12 shots.

CRUNCH INCH CLOSER TO PLAYOFF BERTH: Following a two-win week, the Crunch remain in sole possession of seventh place in the Eastern Conference with just one week remaining in the regular season. The Crunch toppled the Calder Cup Champion Binghamton Senators on Wednesday, 5-1. J.F. Jacques, Brandon McMillan, Dan Sexton and John Mitchell each recorded two points in the win. It was the Crunch's sixth win in eight tries against the Senators this season. After falling to the Sound Tigers, 3-1, in Bridgeport on Friday, the Crunch bounced back with a 3-2 shootout victory over Hershey on Saturday in Chocolatetown USA. Igor Bobkov stopped 30 of 32 shots in regulation and overtime for the victory, while Kyle Palmieri scored his team-leading 33rd goal of the season. The Crunch sit four points behind sixth-place Connecticut and three points ahead of Portland and Manchester. With three games remaining, the Crunch's magic number to clinch the playoffs for the first time since 2008 is four. Any combination of four points gained by the Crunch and four points not earned by Portland puts the Crunch into the postseason.

UPCOMING OPPONENTS:

ROCHESTER (BUFFALO SABRES): The Crunch and Rochester Americans meet for the 10th and final time this season on Friday. The Crunch have 13 points in the season series, while Rochester has 11. Five of the nine previous matchups have gone into overtime. The past contest was a 4-3 shootout with by the Americans on March 24 at the War Memorial. Unlike the Crunch, the Americans are on the outside look in to the playoff picture. They are tied for ninth, one point back of four teams with 82 points. Rochester has three games remaining and will face Grand Rapids, who are on the verge of being eliminated from postseason contention, on Tuesday. Dan Sexton has 13 points in eight games against Rochester this season, while Paul Szczechura has nine points in eight games against the Crunch.

CONNECTICUT (NEW YORK RANGERS): The Connecticut Whale visit the War Memorial on Saturday to complete a two-game season series. The Whale took the first and only meeting of the season, 3-1, on February 7 in Hartford. The Whale have since clinched a postseason berth and are four points ahead of the Crunch in sixth place in the Eastern Conference. Connecticut is led by rookie forward Jonathan Audy-Marchessault and veteran Kris Newbury, who each have 61 points. Audy-Marchessault is just one point ahead of Peter Holland in rookie scoring. Chad Johnson leads the Whale in goal with 22 wins.

ALBANY (NEW JERSEY DEVILS): The Crunch complete their regular season schedule on Sunday with a matinee tilt against the Albany Devils. The Crunch have won six out of the previous nine meetings, three of which went into overtime. The latest game was a 5-1 victory by the Crunch on March 11 at the War Memorial. Peter Holland paces the Crunch with nine points against Albany, while Nathan Perkovich has four goals versus the Crunch. Albany is on the verge of being eliminated from postseason contention. They are six points back of eighth-place Manchester with three games remaining.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS:

FAN APPRECIATION NIGHT: The Syracuse Crunch announced today that the club's regular season home finale on April 14 vs. Connecticut will be fan appreciation night. The first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive a cowbell courtesy of Ale 'n' Angus Pub. Each orange cowbell has the Syracuse Crunch logo on one side and the Ale 'n' Angus Pub logo on the other. Additionally, every fan will be given a 2011-12 team photo courtesy of Hillside Family of Agencies, Wegmans and Burdick Ford.

CRUNCHABLES: The Crunch improved to 7-5 on the season in shootout with the win on Saturday. They are 5-1 in their last six shootouts...In the last 17 games, since March 3, the Crunch are 13-2-1-1...Kyle Palmieri, Patrick Maroon, Peter Holland and J.F. Jacques are tied for the team lead with four shootout tallies.

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American Hockey League Stories from April 9, 2012


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