Hershey earns tie with Syracuse

by Ed Gonser
Published on October 11, 2003 under American Hockey League (AHL)

Syracuse -- Opening night and all the glitz for the Syracuse Crunch Express Mart 10th Anniversary season kickoff had the 5,992 fans in attendance pumped as Syracuse jumped out to a two-goal first period lead on goals by Anders Eriksson and Mark Hartigan.

Syracuse would not be able to hold the lead, though, as the Hershey Bears erased a three-goal Syracuse edge to earn a 4-4 tie.

Gavin Morgan's power-play goal earned the tie as the teams kicked off their 2003-04 American Hockey League season.

Morgan's goal, just past the four-minute mark of the third period, came on a hard shot from the circle to the left of the Syracuse goalie Karl Goehring.

"It may have not been a win but it was a great start for us," Morgan said.

Charlie Stephens had cut the Syracuse lead to one 40-seconds into the third on a weak backhand shot that Goehring could not squeeze between his right skate and the post. It was the second time in the game that Goehring was unable to hug the post.

Syracuse jumped out to a two-goal first period lead.. The newly signed Anders Eriksson netted a goal on the power play with just over seven minutes left in the period and Hartigan tipped home a shot past Hershey goalie Peter Budaj with three minutes remaining in the first.

Eriksson creeped in from his spot on the left point and ripped home a shot on a pass from Brad Moran.

Shane Willis answered for Hershey early in the second period. Willis poked the puck through Goehring's pads on a shot by Stephens.

Moran put the Crunch back up by two on the power play with Syracuse holding a two-man advantage. Hartigan stuck out his stick in the crease behind Budaj and tipped in the shot from Joe Motzko.

Rookie defenseman Aaron Johnson made his mark in his first game as a professional. Johnson's blast from the blueline with five minutes left in the second put Syracuse up by three. Johnson's first professional goal beat Budaj through the pads and trickled into the back of the net..

Steve Burle cut the Syracuse lead to two before the period ended. Goehring watching Burle behind the net at the right post could not slide over quick enough as Burle wrapped the puck inside the left post.

Goehring stopped 26 of 30 Hershey shots while Budaj stopped 32 of 36 shots by Syracuse.

American Hockey League Stories from October 11, 2003

• Hershey earns tie with Syracuse - OSC Original by Ed Gonser
• Falcons Rally Past Rats for 5-4 Win - Springfield Falcons
• Thomas posts shutout in Bruins' win - Providence Bruins
• Lowell Frustrates Monarchs With Four Unanswered Goals - Manchester Monarchs
• Miller Lifts Griffins to 3-2 OT Win - Grand Rapids Griffins
• Cats Fall in Home Opener - Worcester IceCats
• Bulldogs win their first game of the season - Hamilton Bulldogs
• Bears Rally Big for 4-4 Tie in Syracuse - Hershey Bears
• Ducks blank Roadrunners behind Bryzgalov - Cincinnati RailRaiders
• Meaner Moose Makes Debut - Manitoba Moose
• Sound Tigers Lose Home Opener - Bridgeport Islanders
• Checkers Drop Two Close Ones - Charlotte Checkers
• Phantoms defeat Bridgeport 3-1 - Adirondack Phantoms
• Bears Open Tonight in Syracuse against the Crunch - Hershey Bears
• Sean Pronger Assigned To Syracuse - Syracuse Crunch
• Amerks Hit the Road and Bus to 'Bingo' - Rochester Americans
• Barons Ready for Opening Night - Cleveland Barons

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