Crunch close to flat lining?
AHL American Hockey League

Crunch close to flat lining?

by Jeff Parzych, Hockeysfuture.com
Published on February 14, 2003 under American Hockey League (AHL)


Syracuse, (February 14, 2003)--Three former Syracuse Crunch players stopped by for a visit at the old barn Friday. Josh Holden, Brad Leeb and Ryan Bonni, now all members of the St. John's Maple Leafs, took on the Crunch in front of 4,671 fans but it was two first round draft choices, rookie Brad Boyes and goalie Mikael Tellqvist that ruined the start of Syracuse's homestand romance.

Boyes scored a three-goal hat trick for the St. John's Maple Leafs in a 5-2 win over the Crunch Friday.

It was the first three-goal game for the Toronto Maple Leafs first round pick of the 2001 entry draft and ties Boyes for the league lead in goals scored by a rookie with 21.

All of Boyes' goals came with less than 10 minutes remaining in the third period as St. John's was clinging to a one-goal lead.

Boyes first, on the power play, was ripped into the short side of the Syracuse goal from the faceoff circle to the right of Crunch goalie Karl Goehring. The second came from the slot into the open left side of the net with Goehring out of position and the third into an empty net with 10 seconds remaining in the game.

Goehring stopped 29 Maple Leafs' shots.

St. John's goalie Mikael Tellqvist closed the door on Syracuse through the first two periods stopping 32 shots, 20 in the second period and 43 for the game.

Tellqvist was the first pick of the 2000 draft by the Leafs.

St. John's has won six of its last seven games.

Early in the second period, Tellqvist raced for a loose puck with the Maple Leafs on the power play. Matt Davidson tipped the puck by Tellqvist and slid the puck into the open net.

It was the seventh shorthanded goal by Syracuse in its last seven games.

Syracuse returned the favor five minutes later when it had the man advantage. Aaron Gavey collected a loose puck just outside his own blueline and went in all alone on Goehring.

Syracuse has lost three of its last four games.

Former Syracuse forward Josh Holden put the Maple Leafs on the board with the only goal of the first period, tipping in a pass from Gavey.

Andrej Nedorost added a power play goal for Syracuse late in the third period.

The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central.

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American Hockey League Stories from February 14, 2003


The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer(s), and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


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