Crunch beat point leader Bulldogs

by Ed Gonser
Published on March 28, 2003 under American Hockey League (AHL)

Syracuse, (March 28, 2003) -- Someone forgot to tell the Syracuse Crunch players that they're not going to the post-season. Either that or someone did and they decided to make their last few games their own post-season.

Whatever the case, Syracuse has played lately with the vim and vigor that rivals any team in the league including the league's current point leaders the Hamilton Bulldogs.

Tim Jackman's quick flick of the wrist helped the Syracuse Crunch to a 3-1 win over the Hamilton Bulldogs Friday in front of a crowd of 5,467 fans at the Onondaga County War Memorial at Oncenter Friday night.

Not too shabby, considering the game was on local cable television and the Syracuse University basketball game would start before the Crunch game finished. Kudos' to those who saw their soldiers of the frozen pond march up and down the ice like laser guided missiles. And the player's responded to their fans.

Jackman, robbed of a goal in the first period when his stick was lifted by a Bulldog's defenseman with an open net from the slot, intercepted a Hamilton clearing attempt 6 1/2 minutes into the third period. The Crunch forward put the puck on his forehand and wristed a quick shot from the high slot past a stunned Hamilton goalie Eric Fichaud.

Syracuse goaltender Karl Goehring made the score stand with several point blank saves in the third period including a two-on-one break when Jani Rita took a pass from Chad Hinz and had an open net but Goehring slid over and made the pad save. Goehring made 26 saves.

Hamilton leads the league in points with 107 and has the fourth best power play as well but couldn't take advantage of six power plays against a Syracuse team that is 17th in penalty killing at home and will not qualify for the post season.

Mathieu Darche netted his 30th of the year into an empty net with 10 seconds left in the game to ice the victory for Syracuse.

After a scoreless first period Hamilton (48-15-7-4) finally put one past Goehring just past the five-minute mark of the second. Mike Bishai blistered a slap shot from the slot that beat Goehring low to the glove side.

Syracuse (24-39-7-4) tied the game 2 1/2 minutes later getting the first by Fichaud. Brad Moran knocked Scooter Smith's rebound out of midair while standing at the side of the Bulldog's net. Fichaud kept Hamilton in until the end stopping 33 Syracuse shots.

American Hockey League Stories from March 28, 2003

• Crunch beat point leader Bulldogs - OSC Original by Ed Gonser
• Syracuse Defeats Bulldogs, 3-1 - Hamilton Bulldogs
• Worcester Downs Monarchs, 5-3 - Manchester Monarchs
• Sound Tigers Beat Albany 4-1 At Home - Bridgeport Islanders
• Phantoms win 3-2 in OT at Cincinnati - Adirondack Phantoms
• Barons Fall To Hershey, 5-3 - Cleveland Barons
• Wolves Down Griffins 3-1 - Grand Rapids Griffins
• Ducks fall to Phantoms in OT - Cincinnati RailRaiders
• Brule Blasts Cleveland with First Hershey Hat Trick of Season - Hershey Bears
• Ward & Bergeron Named to AHL All-Star Teams - Hamilton Bulldogs
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• Rampage to Don and Auction Patriotic Jerseys - San Antonio Rampage
• Bulldogs Support Travis Battle - Hamilton Bulldogs
• Ouellet Gets All-Star Nod - Portland Pirates
• Mason Reassigned by Panthers - San Antonio Rampage
• Cincinnati Might Ducks Tonight - Cincinnati RailRaiders
• Tonight's Griffins Game Sold Out - Grand Rapids Griffins
• Griffins Land Three on AHL All-Star Teams - Grand Rapids Griffins
• Syracuse Signs Clarkson's Mike Walsh - Syracuse Crunch
• AHL All-Star Teams Announced - AHL
• Pothier named to second all-star team - Binghamton Senators
• Calder Cup Comes To Portland - Portland Pirates
• AHL Quick Hits - AHL
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