AHL Syracuse Crunch

Crunch Weekly

October 29, 2012 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Syracuse Crunch News Release


Last Week

Sat., Oct. 27 - Crunch vs. WB/Scranton - L, 4-1

Sun., Oct. 28 - Crunch vs. Adirondack - OTL, 4-3

This Week

Fri., Nov. 2 - Crunch at Adirondack, 7:00 p.m.

Need to Know

- Syracuse has recorded points in six of seven games, but collected only one of four possible points in Week 3.

- With a 4-1-1-1 record (10pts), the Crunch are tied for first in the East Division, second in the Eastern Conference.

- The Crunch play only one game in Week 4, visiting Adirondack Friday night.

WEEK IN REVIEW

Game 6: Crunch win streak ends in 4-1 loss to Penguins

Syracuse suffered its first regulation loss of the season Saturday at the War Memorial, falling 4-1 at the hands of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. The Crunch, who had topped the Pens 3-1 six days earlier, took an early lead as Cory Conacher tallied his fifth goal of the season 38 seconds into the first period. Syracuse's leading scorer swooped in on the left wing and his centering pass went off a defender's skate and past WBS goalie Jeff Zatkoff. Alex Killorn and Brett Connolly garnered helpers.

The Penguins, who had won their first game of the season the night before vs. Rochester in overtime, tied Syracuse in the first period at 14:10 with Eric Tangradi's third goal of the season. Second period goals from Riley Holzapfel, who played for the Crunch last season, and rookie Beau Bennett, his first professional goal, put WBS ahead, 3-1. An empty net goal extended the Pens lead to 4-1 on Tangradi's second of the night.

The Crunch were held scoreless on seven power-play chances, the first time Syracuse could not convert with the man advantage this season. Dustin Tokarski stopped 25 of 28 shots in the loss.

Game 7: Adirondack's late power-play strikes edge Syracuse, 4-3 in OT

Entering the game with only three power-play goals on the season (and just one on the road), the Adirondack Phantoms scored twice on special teams in the final 1:16 to stun Syracuse, 4-3. A 6-on-3 goal (with the goalie pulled for an extra attacker) from Brayden Schenn at 18:58 of the third tied the game, 3-3, and a 5-on-3 goal from Brandon Manning 14 seconds into overtime sealed the Phantoms third victory of the season.

The Crunch took a 1-0 lead at 8:21 of the first on Brett Connolly's third goal of the season, poking in a loose puck after Cory Conacher put a shot on goal. Tye McGinn scored consecutive goals for Adirondack at 1:07 and 8:45 of the second, his second and third of the year, to put the visitors ahead, 2-1. Alex Killorn responded with two of his own, the rookie's first two of the season. Ondrej Palat assisted on the first - a four-on-four goal - at 13:31 to tie, and Matt Taormina set up Killorn's second during a four-on-three power play just 30 seconds later.

Syracuse could not hold the 3-2 lead, however, committing four minor penalties in the final 2:05 of the third period with ensuing power plays leading to Phantoms goals. Starting goalie Riku Helenius took the loss despite 25 saves and sharp glove work. Cal Heeter picked up his first win in three starts, stopping 32 Crunch shots.

Notes

- The reigning AHL MVP Cory Conacher has recorded points in each of Syracuse's first seven games, one of only four players in the AHL with such a streak. The 22-year-old has 11 points (5g, 6a), tied for second most in the league and most on the team. He also leads the Crunch in power-play points with five (1g, 4a).

- Syracuse center Alex Killorn is among AHL's top-10 rookie scorers, tied for seventh with six points (2g, 4a). Four of Killorn's six points have come on the power play (1g, 3a), top 5 among AHL rookies.

- Mark Barberio is one of 17 AHL defensemen with six or more points. The 22-year-old, whose 61 points last year were most among AHL defensemen, now has two goals and two assists on the power play.

- The Crunch lead the AHL in penalty minutes, 218, with 43 more PIMs than the second-ranked team, Binghamton (175). However, Crunch opponents have served more penalty time, a combined 231 minutes.

- The Crunch average of 31.14 penalty minutes per game also leads the league, as does their total of minors (69). Only Binghamton has been assessed more majors, 13 to Syracuse's 12.

- Syracuse has the 10th-best power play in the AHL, converting on 10 of its 46 chances, a 21.7% success rate. The ratio is better on the road (7-for-28, 25%) than at home (3-for-21, 14.3%).

- The penalty kill for Syracuse has stopped 44 of 52 opponent's power plays, an 84.6% kill rate ranked 13th in the AHL.

- October ends with Syracuse at 4-1-1-1 overall, 10 points, with a home record of 1-1-1-0 and a road record of 3-0-0-1. In games not decided in regulation, the Crunch are 1-1 in overtime and 0-1 in shootouts.

- Despite surrendering the tying goal to Adirondack late in the third period Sunday, the Crunch still call the third frame their strongest, outscoring their first seven opponents 7-5 in the last 20 minutes. The highest scoring period overall is the second with Syracuse opponents outscoring the Crunch, 10-9. First period and overtime scoring is even, 8-8 and 1-1, respectively.

- Syracuse has outshot its first seven opponents 221-184, putting the puck on net 67 times in first periods and 75 times in both the second and third, as compared to 61, 54 and 63 for opponents. Syracuse has been outshot in overtime, 5-4. Their 31.57 shots per game rank eighth in the AHL and 26.29 shots against per game are sixth best.

THE WEEK AHEAD

Crunch at Adirondack Phantoms - Friday, 7:00 p.m.

The Crunch and Phantoms play the back end of a home-and-home series, with four days between games. After Adirondack handed Syracuse an overtime loss Sunday at the War Memorial, the Crunch look to extend their road winning streak to four games Friday in Glens Falls, N.Y. Syracuse won three in a row at Albany, Binghamton and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton last weekend before dropping two home games over the weekend. The Phantoms have moved into fourth place in the Northeast Division thanks to Sunday's win over Syracuse, and now have a 3-4 record - six points and 11th place in the Eastern Conference. Brayden Schenn leads Adirondack with nine points (4g, 5a) after a four-point game against the Crunch Sunday with one goal and three assists.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS

Supercuts Magnetic Schedule Giveaway - Nov. 10 vs. Rochester Americans

Every fan in attendance when the Crunch take on the Rochester Americans on Saturday, Nov. 10 will receive a magnetic schedule courtesy of Supercuts.

Rock n Skate - Nov. 10 vs. Rochester Americans

At the conclusion of the Crunch's Nov. 10 game against the Rochester Americans fans are invited to take the ice for a post-game skate. Fans interested in participating should bring their own skates and report to the section one corner following the game.

Buy and Save at Tops Friendly Markets - Nov. 16 vs. Hershey Bears

Tops customers who bring a register receipt from Tops Friendly Markets with a minimum purchase of $50 will receive $5 off the full retail price of any Crunch ticket for the Nov. 16 contest against the Hershey Bears.

November is Movember

The Syracuse Crunch and SUNY Upstate Medical University are teaming up for Movember. During the month of November, also known as Movember, the Syracuse Crunch players and staff will be growing mustaches to raise awareness of prostate cancer and other men's health issues. Stay tuned to www.syracusecrunch.com for details updates, photos, videos and information on how you can become involved.

Check out the Syracuse Crunch Statistics



American Hockey League Stories from October 29, 2012


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