Sports stats

AHL Syracuse Crunch

Crunch Weekly

March 19, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Syracuse Crunch News Release


Last Week

Fri., Mar. 14 - Crunch vs. Hershey - W, 3-2 (OT)

Sat., Mar. 15 - Crunch vs. Hamilton - SOL, 2-1

Sun., Mar. 16 - Crunch at Albany - L, 3-0

This Week

Fri., Mar. 21 - Crunch vs. W-B/Scranton, 7 p.m.

Sat., Mar. 22 - Crunch vs. Albany- 7 p.m.

Sun., Mar. 23 - Crunch at Adirondack - 5 p.m.

Need to Know

- Starting Friday against W-B/Scranton, the Crunch play 10 of their final 15 games at the War Memorial Arena.

- The Crunch celebrate 20 years of hockey with Shapiro Motors "Turn Back the Clock Night" Saturday vs. Albany.

- Saturday's event features black throwback jerseys and a guest appearance by former Crunch forward Lonny Bohonos.

The Crunch will play their second to last three-in-three of the season as they host Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Albany on Friday and Saturday before making their last trip to Glens Falls to take on the Phantoms Sunday. Despite collecting points in two of three games last week the Crunch dropped to 13th in the Eastern Conference. Yanni Gourde collected a point in his Crunch debut Friday against the Bears, and Dalton Smith recorded his first point as a member of the Crunch with his fifth goal of the season.

Turn Back the Clock Night Saturday

Saturday the Crunch celebrate 20 years of Crunch hockey with "Turn Back the Clock Night" presented by Shapiro Motor Sales as the Albany Devils come to the War Memorial. Former Crunch forward and member of the original Crunch team, Lonny Bohonos will be a special guest at the March 15 game. Bohonos played for the Crunch from 1994 to 1998 and ranks second on the team in goals (104) and assists (126). The team will wear black throwback jerseys similar to the sweaters worn during the inagural season. The jerseys will be auctioned off after the game to benefit JDRF (formerly known as Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation).

In the hunt

Syracuse fell one point further out of a playoff spot in Week 24, now trailing the Eastern Conference's eighth-place team Norfolk by 16 points. Syracuse (24-27-4-6), at 58 points, would have to jump five teams to secure a postseason berth: Norfolk (74pts), Hershey (70pts), Worcester (64pts), Bridgeport (60pts) and Hartford (59pts).

First Timers

The weekend marked a first on a number of fronts for the Crunch. Charles Landry's goal in the first period Friday against Hershey was his first in the AHL. In 56 career AHL regular season games since the start of the 2011-12 season, the Longueuil, Quebec native had totaled eight assists, but had not scored until Friday.

Also on Friday Dalton Smith, playing in his third game with the Crunch since being acquired from the Springfield Falcons at the trade deadline March 5, scored his first goal with the Crunch in the second period. The 21-year-old now has 10 points (5g, 5a) in 53 combined games with Springfield and Syracuse this season.

Yanni Gourde, who made his Syracuse debut Friday, recorded an assist, on Landry's first-period goal. The 22-year-old had 24 points (4g, 20a) in 25 games with Worcester this season.

With Gourde and Smith getting their first points with the Crunch, 35 different players have at least a point with Syracuse, matching last season's total. Only two skaters who have played for the Crunch have not recorded a point and none remain on the active roster.

Swallowed whistles

Friday against Hershey the Crunch recorded a season low in penalty minutes, setting a franchise record for fewest combined penalty minutes in a game, two. Dalton Smith's minor for interference in the first period was the only penalty called during the game. It was the first time since March 18, 2011, that a Crunch opponent did not take a penalty; the Crunch defeated the Toronto Marlies, 1-0, while recording six penalty minutes. The only time in franchise history that the Crunch did not record any penalties was Nov. 19, 2000, against Springfield.

Sweet taste of home cooking

By claiming a point Saturday, the Crunch have recorded at least one standings point in nine of the last ten home games (5-1-2-2), improving to 12-10-2-4 at the War Memorial. 10 of the remaining 15 games will be home games.

Despite going 0-for-3 Saturday, the Crunch power play has goals in six of the last ten home games (7-for-39, 17.9%). The Crunch power play is 17.8% at home (18th), compared to 13.4% (25th) away from the War Memorial.

After being shut out 3-0 by the Devils Sunday the Crunch have been outscored 10-1 in the last three road games, including two shutouts. Mike Angelidis's third period tally March 7 in Rochester is the lone goal the Crunch have scored in three games away from home in March. The team's last road win was at Hershey Feb. 22.

Sunday's game against Albany marked a season low for the Crunch as they recorded 13 shots on goal. It was the seventh time the Crunch have been held under 20 shots this season, six of which have come on the road. Away from the War Memorial, the Crunch have been outshot 18 times in 33 games. In comparision, the Crunch have outshot opponents at home 18 out of 28 games.

THE WEEK IN REVIEW

Game 59: Crunch top Bears in OT, 3-2

Jon DiSalvatore scored 1:50 into overtime as the Crunch defeated the Hershey Bears, 3-2, Friday at the War Memorial Arena, closing out the season series with five wins in eight games.

The Bears connected on their only power play of the game 9:50 into the first to grab a 1-0 lead. Charles Landry tied the game 1-1 later in the period, his first career AHL goal, on a shot from the right point. In the second Dalton Smith backhanded home his first goal with the Crunch for a 2-1 lead.

After Hershey tied it in the third to send it to overtime, DiSalvatore popped in a bouncing puck early in overtime to give the Crunch their second win in a row. Kristers Gudlevskis stopped 31 shots for his 13th win.

Defenseman J.P. Cote, who made his return to the Crunch lineup Friday, was injured during the game.

Game 60: Bulldogs outlast Crunch in Shootout, Win 2-1

The Crunch earned a point, but failed to score in a nine-round shootout and lost 2-1 to the Hamilton Bulldogs. Brett Connolly had the lone goal for the Crunch, his 15th of the season, 6:42 into the third period. Vlad Namestnikov earned the only assist on the goal.

Hamilton's Louis Lablanc tied it 1-1 four minutes later, and the game went to overtime. In the ninth round of the skills competition, Mike Blunden scored the shootout's only goal for the Bulldogs to send the Crunch to 24-26-4-6. Syracuse goalie Kristers Gudlevskis stopped 28 of 29 shots, and then eight of nine Hamilton shootout attempts.

Game 61: Devils snap Crunch's three-game point-streak, blank Crunch 3-0

Cedrick Desjardins made 34 saves but the Crunch were unable to score as they were blanked by the Devils 3-0. Albany goaltender Scott Wedgewood recorded his second shutout in as many nights as the Crunch were held to a season-low 13 shots. Syracuse had a three-game point streak ended, and Brett Connolly saw his four-game point streak snapped.

Raman Hrabarenka netted the eventual game-winner on the power play late in the first period. His shot from the left circle beat Desjardins and gave the Devils a 1-0 lead at the end of the first. Albany would add an even strength goal with about five minutes remaining before adding an empty-net goal to round out the scoring at 3-0. The loss marked the fifth time that the Crunch have been shut out this season.

THE WEEK AHEAD

Crunch vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton-Friday, 7 p.m.

ESPN Radio 97.7 FM & 1200 AM, Syracuse; 100.1 FM & 1440 AM, Oswego

Friday at the War Memorial the Crunch and Penguins face off for the ninth of ten times. Syracuse has won two of the last three matchups with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton including a 4-0 victory in the last meeting Feb. 28; the Penguins had won four of the first five and lead the season series, 5-2-0-1.

Since the shutout loss to Syracuse last month, the Pens have at least a point in the last six games. At 75 points W-B/Scranton ranks fifth in the Eastern Conference, one point back from East Division-leading Binghamton.

Penguins captain Tom Kostopoulous leads the team in scoring and in points against the Crunch. The right wing, who holds nearly all of the franchise's offensive records, has recorded 44 points (21g, 23a) in 59 games this season. In eight games versus Syracuse Kostopolous has netted seven points (5g, 2a). Nick Drazenovic is second on the team with 38 points (12g, 26a). Harry Zolnierczyk, third at 34 points (18g, 16a), has six points against the Crunch this season (3g,3a).

Jeff Deslauriers has played 39 games in net for the Penguins posting a 19-15-3 record to go along with a 2.60 goals-against average and a .895 save percentage. With Eric Hartzell reassigned to Wheeling Sunday, Pete Mannino is the other goaltender on the Penguins roster. Mannino has appeared in nine games for the Penguins posting a 5-1-1 record with a 1.81 goals-against average and a .926 save percentage.

Crunch vs. Albany-Saturday, 7 p.m.

ESPN Radio 97.7 FM & 1200 AM, Syracuse; 100.1 FM & 1440 AM, Oswego - Time Warner Sports Channel (Ch. 19)

Albany snapped a three-game skid with a pair of shutout victories in Week 24 and moved into seventh place in the Eastern Conference at 74 points. Only four points separate the Devils from ninth-place Hershey heading into a three-game week with East Division opponents Binghamton, Syracuse and W-B/Scranton on the docket.

After dropping the first game of the season series with Syracuse the Devils have won back-to-back meetings with the Crunch including Sunday's 3-0 blanking. The fourth of six matchups takes place Saturday on "Turn Back the Clock Night." Syracuse hosted the Albany River Rats for its first ever game, Sep. 30, 1994, a 7-7 tie.

Rookie Scott Wedgewood became the first Devil to record back-to-back shutouts, earning AHL player-of-the-week honors for Week 24. He has split time recently with Keith Kinkaid as each goaltender has started two of the last four games. Wedgewood has posted an 11-12-3 record with a 2.54 goals-against average and a .894 save percentage in 28 games. Kinkaid has appeared in 36 games posting a 21-10-4 record with a 2.37 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage. Only three goaltenders in the league have more wins than Kinkaid.

Joe Whitney leads the Devils with 47 points (21g, 26a) in 60 games. Mike Sislo, who scored twice against the Crunch Sunday, is second with 36 points (21g, 15a). Raman Hrabarenka (6g, 13a) also recorded a multi-point game on Sunday with a goal, the game winner, and an assist.

Vlad Namestnikov (3a), and J.P. Cote (1a) are the only players on the Crunch roster to record a point against the Devils in a Crunch uniform this season. Newcomers Jonathan Marchessault (3g, 5a) and Dalton Smith (1g) each recorded points against Albany while playing for Springfield.

Crunch at Adirondack-Sunday, 5 p.m.

ESPN Radio 97.7 FM & 1200 AM, Syracuse; 100.1 FM & 1440 AM, Oswego

Since shutting out the Crunch, 3-0, on March 2 the Phantoms have lost six straight. Adirondack sits in 15th place in the Eastern Conference and fifth in the Northeast Division with 53 points, 21 points out of the playoffs. Sunday's game will mark the fourth of six meetings between the two teams and the Crunch's last trip to Glens Falls.

Forward Jason Akeson is the only player to have appeared in all 61 games for the Phantoms and leads the team with 53 points (18g, 35a). No other Phantom has eclipsed the 40 point mark. When Kris Newbury changed teams and joined Hershey Tye McGinn (18g, 15a) was left as the only other player on the Phantoms roster with over 30 points (33). He is tied for the team lead with 18 goals. Both Akeson (3a) and McGinn (2g, 1a) have recorded three points in three games against the Crunch this season.

In net both Cal Heeter and Yann Danis have split time this season. Danis, who has started three of the last four games for the Phantoms, is 8-11-4 in 30 games with a 3.01 goals-against average and a .896 save percentage. Heeter is 15-20-0 to go along with a 2.52 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage in 36 games. His four shutouts are tied with six other goaltenders, including Crunch net minder Kristers Gudlevskis, for the second most in the AHL.

Check out the Syracuse Crunch Statistics



American Hockey League Stories from March 19, 2014


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Syracuse Crunch Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central