Crunch take commanding lead
AHL American Hockey League

Crunch take commanding lead

by Ed Gonser
April 17, 2002 - American Hockey League (AHL)


Syracuse, N.Y. -- A goal and two assists by Brad Moran highlighted a four-goal third period for the Syracuse Crunch in a 4-1 win over the Philadelphia Phantoms Wednesday in game two of the Western Conference quarterfinals of the American Hockey League Calder Cup Playoffs.

With the win Syracuse takes a 2-0 series lead as the scene switches to Philadelphia for game three and, if necessary, game four.

Philadelphia had a one-goal lead going into the third period. Greg Koehler scored at 2:11 of second period on a screen shot with Kirby Law planted in front of Syracuse goalie Jean-Francois Labbe.

It was nearly 90 degrees in Syracuse Wednesday. The Crunch, unlike the weather, was cold and off the mark in the first two periods, but warmed by the support of the 3,992 fans at the War Memorial, the Crunch turned up the heat and exploded with the four-third period goals.

"I think we were pretty positive," Moran said about the mood of the team in the locker room between the second and third period. "We had played well. Our power play wasn't working and we do need to work on that but we were confident that if we could get one we could get another and then just keep going."

Jeremy Reich tied the game before the third period was three minutes old on a similar play. David Ling battled with the Phantoms' defense in front of Philadelphia goalie Neil Little as Reich wound up from the top of the slot.

Phantoms' forward Mike Watt took a penalty for hooking shortly after Reich's goal. The Western Conference's regular season champions had a power play and momentum. On the power play Moran tapped in a rebound of a Derrick Walser shot from the blueline for Syracuse's first lead in the game.

Syracuse had not been able to get anyone in front of the net to screen Little or unable to get to the multitude of rebounds that the Phantoms' netminder was leaving for the Crunch to feast on. In a matter of five minutes all that had changed.

"Walser was able to get a good shot away and off the post," Moran said of his go-ahead goal. "(Little) put his glove down but it looked like it hit the back of his glove as it was going in it was pretty close."

Syracuse was able to get an insurance goal by Andrej Nedorost just past the midpoint of the period. Moran spotted Nedorost at the red line. Nedorost took advantage of a bad Philadelphia line change for the breakaway on Little. Nedorost deked and slid the puck under Little's pads.

The team's intensive pressure it put on the Phantoms was culminated by the third period goal production. "We faced some adversity going into the third period," Syracuse head coach Gary Agnew said. "We needed leaders, so you call on your veterans (Ling and Sean Pronger) and I think they did a great job. We remained patient and tried to get the puck to the net as much as we could. We wanted to get the puck upstairs on Little because he likes to cover the low post. If you keep throwing things at the net eventually something's going to go in."

Mathieu Darche added an empty net, power play goal in the game's final minute to seal the victory.

"It takes three games to win the series," Moran said. "This game gives us confidence. When we go there anything can happen. All the games this season against them have been close so you just don't know. Anything can happen. We just have to chip away and stay with our game plan."

Syracuse takes its two-game lead to Philadelphia for Sunday's game-three with the Crunch in the drivers seat to close out the series.

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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