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AHL Syracuse Crunch

Crunch Defeated by Adirondack, 6-4

January 29, 2011 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Syracuse Crunch News Release


Syracuse, NY - Michael Ryan recorded four points (3g, 1a), Mike Testwuide notched three points (2g, 1a) and Denis Hamel (1g, 1a) and Danny Syvret (0g, 2a) each tallied two points as the Syracuse Crunch were overcome once again by the Phantom curse, falling to Adirondack tonight by a 6-4 score at The Oncenter War Memorial Arena. The Crunch are now winless in five tries against division-rival Adirondack this season.

Nick Bonino picked up a goal and an assist in the loss, while Nate Guenin and Josh Green each tallied two helpers for the Crunch, who fell to 10 games below .500 at 16-26-2-4 in their last game before the AHL All-Star break.

Adirondack came out of the gate hard and grabbed a 2-0 lead on the Crunch just a little over 16 minutes into the game, both on goals by Testwuide.

Testwuide's first marker came just 3:44 in, when he put home centering feed from Denis Hamel past J.P. Levasseur to make it 1-0. Testwuide struck again, this time on a set up from Ryan at the 16:12 mark to give Adirondack a 2-0 lead.

Adirondack's lead was cut in half, however, just under two minutes later when Bonino ripped a shot from the top of the left circle that beat Johan Backlund to the top right corner. Bonino's shot actually went through the netting and was not originally ruled a goal, but after the referee and linesmen huddled together, the Crunch were awarded the marker to make it a 2-1 game.

Adirondack went back up by two goals just 1:08 into the second stanza, capitalizing on a carry-over power play after David Laliberte was called for hooking with 13 seconds left in the first. Ryan found the puck off a scramble in front and punched it in from the side of the net, chasing Levasseur in favor of Timo Pielmeier.

The Crunch got back in the game just 1:30 later when Nicolas Deschamps circled around the net and flicked a shot into the cage past the outstretched Backlund, who was tangled up with Kyle Palmieri in the crease.

MacGregor Sharp knotted the score at 3-3 just three minutes later after Leigh Salters' backhand bid hit off the cross bar and Sharp was able to get to the rebound and swat it in past Backlund.

Syracuse kept riding the momentum in what was a dominant second period and took their first lead of the game on a pretty hook-up between Green and Dan Sexton.

Green took an outlet pass from Guenin, gained the offensive zone and floated over to the left side of the ice, drawing two defenders to him in the process. Just before an Adirondack player could poke check the disk away, Green threaded a pass right through to Sexton in the slot, who turned and ripped a wrister by Backlund to give the Crunch a 4-3 advantage.

Adirondack tied the game at 4-4 before the middle period was through, after Syvret sent Hamel in all alone and the veteran sniper beat Pielmeier over the glove to make it 4-4 at the 15:43 mark.

The game was a back-and-forth affair in the third, but Adirondack re-took the lead for good when Ryan's bid from the left side ticked off the stick of Mark Mitera and slid by Pielmeier for the game-winner.

Ryan added his second of the game, an empty-netter, with 11 seconds left in regulation.

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American Hockey League Stories from January 29, 2011


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