AHL Syracuse Crunch

Conklin's Strong Play Nets Two Road Victories

Published on November 20, 2006 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Syracuse Crunch News Release


CONKLIN RECORDS FIRST CRUNCH VICTORIES: Goaltender Ty Conklin posted back-to-back wins on Wednesday and Friday night, his first wins of the season and the teams' first on the road. On Wednesday, Conklin stopped 22 of 24 shots faced in a 5-2 victory over Philadelphia. Conklin followed that up with a 4-2 win over Albany on Saturday night, in which he recorded 31 saves. On Saturday night, the near perfect week came to an end with a Manitoba goal with 4.5 seconds remaining in the game to lift the Moose to a 1-0 win over the Crunch. Conklin finished the night with 34 saves.

SPECIAL TEAMS HAVE BIG IMPACT: Through 16 games this season, Syracuse has scored 16 power play goals and have allowed 24 power play goals, Nine of those 16 power play goals scored by Syracuse have been tallied in the teams' four wins this season In addition, in the team's four victories this season, the Crunch have only allowed one of the 24 power play goals against.

PICARD RECALLED: The Syracuse Crunch announced today that the Columbus Blue Jackets have recalled left wing Alexandre Picard.

Picard, 21, has appeared in 16 games with Syracuse this season, recording nine points (5g, 4a) and 22 penalty minutes. He appeared in one game with the Blue Jackets earlier this season, without recording a point. A native of Les Saules, Quebec, Picard was drafted by Columbus in the first round, 8th overall, in the 2004 Entry Draft.

THIS WEEK'S OPPONENTS:

IOWA (DALLAS STARS): Syracuse hosts Iowa on Wednesday, November 22 for the second and final regular season meetings. Iowa leads the series 1-0-0-0 after defeating Syracuse 8-5 on October 21 at Wells Fargo Arena. Right wing Joe Motzko leads all players in head-to-head scoring with four points (1g, 3a). Junior Lessard (2g, 1a) and Vadim Khomitski (3a) lead the Stars in head-to-head scoring with three points each. Goaltender Tomas Popperle was credited with the loss for Syracuse, recording 14 saves. Goaltender Dan Ellis posted the win for Iowa, making 23 saves. Lifetime, the Crunch are 0-1-0 against the Stars.

TORONTO (TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS): The Crunch play a home and home series with Toronto beginning at the War Memorial at Oncenter on Friday, November 24 and at Ricoh Coliseum on Saturday, November 25. It is the second and third of eight regular season meetings between the two teams. Toronto leads the series 1-0-0-0, after shutting out the Crunch 6-0 on October 6 at Ricoh Coliseum. Several Marlies players have two points a piece in head-to-head scoring. Goaltender Tomas Popperle recorded 26 saves in the loss for Syracuse. Goaltender Jean-Francois Racine posted 20 saves in the win for Toronto. Lifetime, Syracuse is 4-5-0 against Toronto.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS:

November

Partners Trust Bank 'Partners Against Hunger' Program: The Syracuse Crunch, along with Partners Trust Bank, announced the details of the Partners Trust Bank 'Partners Against Hunger' program - to benefit the Food Bank of Central New York and the Interreligious Food Consortium.

At all remaining Crunch home games during the month of November, the Syracuse Crunch and Partners Trust Bank will be collecting non-perishable food items for the 'Partners Against Hunger' program. Donations will benefit the Interreligious Food Consortium, which distributes food to 42 food pantries across Onondaga County.

A designated website - www.PartnersAgainstHunger.com - has been established to provide additional information. For each new customer account opened during November, Partners Trust Bank will donate $5 to the cause. Non-perishable food items can also be donated at each of the nine Partners Trust Bank branches in the Syracuse area.

Friday, November 24

Turning Stone Playing Card Giveaway Night: The Syracuse Crunch, along with Turning Stone Resort & Casino, announced today that their Friday, November 24 game vs. Toronto will be Turning Stone Playing Card Giveaway Night.

The first 2,500 fans, 18 and older, in attendance at the November 24 game, will receive a Syracuse Crunch playing card deck, compliments of Turning Stone Resort & Casino. The cards feature both the Syracuse Crunch and Turning Stone logos in a casino style design.

Each deck also includes the following four (4) monthly offers from Turning Stone:

- December 2006 - Free Level 1 Admission for Oneida High Stakes Bingo Hall

- January 2007 - Buy one get one free at any outlet at the Corner Market

- February 2007 - $25 Match Play, good for table game play

- March 2007 - $25 Free Play, good for multi-game play only

Turning Stone is conveniently located only minutes off Interstate 90 at exit 33 in Verona, New York.

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

Tuesday, November 21 10:30 a.m. practice @ Tsha'Hon'nonyen'dakhwa

Wednesday, November 22 10:00 a.m. skate @ Tsha'Hon'nonyen'dakhwa

7:00 p.m. game vs. Iowa

Thursday, November 23 10:30 a.m. practice @ War Memorial at Oncenter

Friday, November 24 10:00 a.m. skate @ War Memorial at Oncenter

7:30 p.m. game vs. Toronto

Saturday, November 25 4:00 p.m. game @ Toronto

Sunday, November 26 TBD

*All practice times and locations subject to change

CRUNCHABLES: Syracuse's win on Wednesday broke a five-game losing streak. It was also the first road win for the Crunch this season... Right wing Jaroslav Balastik tallied four points (1g, 3a) in two games this past week for Syracuse... Syracuse has been shutout four times this season, which doubles the number of times the team was shutout for the entire 2005-06 season... Left wing Mark Hartigan is nine goals short of 100 Syracuse goals and two assists short of 100 Crunch assists... Center Ben Simon is seven games shy of 300 career AHL games... Center Geoff Platt leads the Crunch with five multiple point games, in which the team has a 2-3-0-0 record.

2006-07 RECORD: 4-11-0-1, 9 points (2-5-0-0 home, 2-6-0-1 road), sixth place, North Division

THIS WEEK'S GAMES

Wednesday, November 22 vs. Iowa (10-7-0-0), 20 points, third place, West Division

Friday, November 24 vs. Toronto (5-10-1-1), 12 points, fifth place, North Division

Saturday, November 25 @ Toronto (5-10-1-1), 12 points, fifth place, North Division

LAST WEEK'S RESULT

Wednesday, November 22 Crunch 5 PHILADELPHIA 2

Friday, November 10 Crunch 4 ALBANY 2

Saturday, November 11 Manitoba 1 CRUNCH 0

HOME TEAM IN CAPS

Check out the Syracuse Crunch Statistics

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American Hockey League Stories from November 20, 2006


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