AHL Syracuse Crunch

Crunch Weekly

Published on November 5, 2012 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Syracuse Crunch News Release


Need to Know

- Syracuse won its lone game in Week 4, improving to 5-1-1-1, 12 points and a first-place tie in the East Division.

- Jon Cooper needs one victory to reach 100 as an AHL head coach (99-45-20).

- Cory Conacher is the only player in the AHL to collect at least one point in each of his team's games.

- The Crunch play the Bulldogs twice in Week 5: Wednesday in Hamilton, Friday in Montreal's Bell Centre.

WEEK IN REVIEW

Game 8: Crunch bounce back with 4-1 victory at Adirondack

The Crunch earned a measure of revenge Friday in Glens Falls, defeating the Phantoms, 4-1. Adirondack had stunned the Crunch at the War Memorial four days earlier, 4-3 in overtime, with a six-on-three goal to tie and a five-on-three goal to win. On Friday, the Crunch gave Adirondack seven power plays, but-unlike the previous meeting-zero five-on-three power plays; the Crunch penalty killers stopped all seven.

Though Syracuse could not score a power play goal of its own for just the second time this season (losing 4-1 to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on the previous occasion) and shot the puck only 18 times (a season low), the Crunch had plenty of offense. Cory Conacher scored at 10:03 of the first-his sixth of the season-extending his league-best scoring streak to eight games. Mark Barberio got the helper, his seventh point (2g, 5a) of the year. After Harry Zolnierczyk tied the game late in the first for Adirondack, Syracuse regained the lead on Richard Panik's second of the season, assists to Tyler Johnson and Ondrej Palat, at 5:44 of the second. Ninety seconds later, Matt Taormina made a long-distance pass in stride to Tyler Johnson who beat Cal Heeter with his sixth of the year. J.P. Cote earned the secondary assist for his first point of the year. Taormina added a short-handed empty net goal with 39 seconds left in the third to seal the win.

Dustin Tokarski was named the game's first star, picking up his fourth victory in six games while making 23 saves on 24 shots. In the loss, Heeter made 14 saves. The win improved the Crunch record when leading after two periods to 4-0-1-0.

Notes

- The reigning AHL MVP Cory Conacher has recorded points in each of Syracuse's first eight games and is the only player in the AHL to register at least one point in all of his team's games this season. Conacher recorded points in 53 of 75 regular season games last season with Norfolk, totaling 80 points (39g, 41a) and constructing notable scoring streaks of nine games (11/5/11-11/25/11) and eight games (1/27/12-2/12/12).

- Conacher leads the Crunch in points overall, 12 (6g, 6a), and power-play points, five (1g, 4a). Only two players in the AHL have more points than Conacher: Oklahoma City's Justin Schultz (15 in 10gp) and Charlotte's Justin Faulk (13 in 8gp). Conacher has 98 points in 90 career AHL regular-season games, 49 goals and 49 assists.

- 2011-12 Louis A. R. Pieri Memorial Award-recipient Jon Cooper will capture his 100th AHL regular-season coaching victory with Syracuse's next win. Currently at 99-45-20, Cooper was 39-26-15 with Norfolk in 2010-11 and 55-18-3 (with 28 straight wins to finish the regular season) in 2011-12. Hershey's Mark French holds the record for fastest to the century mark, earning his 100th AHL win his 147th game.

- Defenseman Matt Taormina had a two-point game Friday at Adirondack (an assist and a short-handed empty net goal), the 12th multi-point regular-season game of his AHL career (127gp). He had three in 2011-12 for Albany (33gp) and eight in 2009-10 for Lowell (75gp). He also had a two-point game in the Calder Cup Playoffs for Lowell April 15, 2010 at Worcester. The former Providence College Friar has one NHL multi-point game: a goal and an assist for New Jersey, Oct. 15, 2010 vs. Colorado. In 2012-13 he has five points (1g, 4a).

- Crunch players have totaled 13 multi-point games so far in 2012-13, two by defensemen (Mark Barberio and Taormina). Cory Conacher has two three-point games, Ondrej Palat and Brett Connolly have two two-point games, and Tyler Johnson has one three-point game and two two-point games.

- Eleven of the 24 players on the Syracuse roster have appeared in all eight contests this season.

- Syracuse is one of five AHL teams (one of three in the Eastern Conference) with a winning percentage of .750 or greater: Abbotsford, Springfield (.778); Syracuse, Norfolk, Charlotte (.750).

- The Crunch have the longest road winning streak in the AHL this season (4) and have a .900 road winning percentage (4-0-0-1), best in the AHL among teams with more than two road games played.

- The Crunch lead the AHL in penalty minutes per game (31.0) and total minor penalties (79). However, they are ranked second in penalty-minute total (248), trailing only Rockford's 292 PIM. As a group, Crunch opponents have served more penalty minutes than Syracuse, 255.

- The Crunch penalty kill is ranked 10th in the AHL, allowing only eight goals on 59 chances, an 86.4% kill rate. Syracuse has been even stronger on the road, stopping 88.6% of opposing power plays, 31-for-35.

- Syracuse has the 11th-best power play in the AHL, converting on 10 of its 50 chances, a 20% success rate. The ratio is better on the road (7-for-29, 24.1%) than at home (3-for-21, 14.3%).

- The Crunch still call the third frame their strongest, outscoring their first eight opponents 8-5 in the last 20 minutes. The highest scoring period overall is the second with Syracuse outscoring opponents 11-9.

THE WEEK AHEAD

Crunch at Hamilton Bulldogs - Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.

Syracuse makes its first trip to Canada this season, beginning a two-game series with the Hamilton Bulldogs of the Western Conference. Hamilton begins Week 5 at 4-2-1-1, but its 10 points are only good for fourth place in the North Division, behind Abbotsford (6-1-0-2), Lake Erie (7-4-0-0) and Rochester (6-3-1-0). The Bulldogs split a weekend series with Rochester, losing on the road 3-2 in a shootout Friday and winning 4-3 at home Saturday.

The Bulldogs are led offensively by Blake Geoffrion and rookie Brendan Gallagher who both lead the team with six points. Robert Mayer is Hamilton's lead goalie at 4-1-1-0 while rookie Peter Delmas is 0-2.

The Crunch will face the Bulldogs four times in the regular season. The last two meetings will be at the War Memorial December 7 and March 22.

Crunch at Hamilton Bulldogs in Montreal - Friday, 7:30 p.m.

After traveling Thursday, the Crunch-Bulldogs series shifts to Montreal's Bell Centre, home of the Montreal Canadiens, the parent club of the Bulldogs. It will be the first game for the Crunch in an NHL venue since the franchise was affiliated with Columbus Blue Jackets. A Tampa Bay Lightning AHL affiliate has not played at an NHL arena in Jon Cooper's tenure as head coach.

Crunch vs. Rochester Americans - Saturday, 7:30 p.m.

The Crunch return to the War Memorial Saturday for their second of ten meetings with inter-conference rival Rochester. Syracuse is 1-1-1-0 in its only three home games this year, while Rochester is 2-2-1-0 on the road.

The Amerks hosted the Crunch in the first game of the season, winning 6-5 in a shootout. Syracuse had trailed 4-1 in the second period, but rallied to take a 5-4 lead. A five-on-three power play goal from the Amerks' Mark Mancari re-tied the score, and after a scoreless overtime Mancari posted the lone tally of the five-round shootout in the final frame for a 6-5 Rochester win.

Entering Week 5, Mancari is one of four Amerks with nine or more points: Marcus Foligno (11), T.J. Brennan (10), Cody Hodgson (10), Mancari (9). Goalie David Leggio-who made 29 saves vs. Syracuse-has started all but one of Rochester's 10 games and is 6-3 with a 3.27 GAA.

The Amerks play home against the Adirondack Phantoms Friday before traveling to Syracuse Saturday.

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.

Military Appreciation Night - Nov. 10 vs. Rochester Americans

Veterans as well as active members of the United Stats Military can show valid identification and receive a ticket to Saturday's game vs. Rochester free of charge.

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.

Check out the Syracuse Crunch Statistics

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