AHL Syracuse Crunch

Labbe Continues Magic

Published on November 4, 2002 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Syracuse Crunch News Release


THANKS J.F.! Superstar goaltender J.F. Labbe made a cameo appearance in a Crunch uniform on Saturday night, turning aside 33 of Cincinnati's 35 shots. Labbe, who was assigned to Syracuse on a conditioning assignment prior to the game and recalled on Sunday, recorded his 202nd AHL win, nine shy of tying Nick Damore for 8th on the AHL's all-time victories list. Labbe also surpassed the 24,000-minute mark in his AHL career during the contest (24,020). A native of Sherbrooke, Quebec, Labbe has appeared in one game for Columbus this season, playing 32 minutes at St. Louis on October 17, stopping 19-of-22 shots on goal. Last season in a Crunch uniform, Labbe posted a 27-16-7 record with a 2.18 goals against average, a .928 save percentage and nine shutouts (tying an AHL record for shutouts in a season). Labbe is 1-2-0 with a 3.44 goals against average in five career NHL games with Columbus and the New York Rangers.

McDONELL AND REICH FIND SCORING TOUCH: A night after sitting out as scratches, left wing Jeremy Reich and right wing Kent McDonell responded by both recording their first multiple point games of the season. Reich, who missed the Wednesday, October 30 game, recorded one goal and one assist on Friday, November 1. McDonell, who did not play on Friday, November 1, came back on November 2 to record one goal and two assists against Cincinnati, helping the Crunch to a 4-2 victory.

PERFECT PENALTY KILL: The Crunch's penalty kill unit has been perfect on the road this season, killing off all 15 chances. Overall the Crunch ranks sixth in the AHL, with a 86.4% success rate.

WAY TO GO WALLY: Defenseman Derrick Walser scored the game-winning goal for Columbus on Sunday night in their 3-2 victory against the Buffalo Sabres. Walser, the Crunch's lone all-star last season, has appeared in seven games for the Blue Jackets this season, recording one goal, two assists and two penalty minutes. Walser was recalled by Columbus on October 19 after appearing in one game with Syracuse.

SLOAN REASSIGNED TO DAYTON: Defenseman Tyler Sloan was reassigned to Dayton (ECHL) on Sunday, November 3 after appearing in one game with the Crunch.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS:

Saturday, November 9

RUGRATS NIGHT: On Saturday, November 9, Tommy and Chuckie of the popular cartoon Rugrats, will be on hand at the War Memorial to hand out coloring sheets before the game.

THIS WEEK'S OPPONENTS:

HAMILTON (MONTREAL CANADIENS/EDMONTON OILERS): The Crunch travels to Hamilton this Wednesday night for the second of four regular season meetings. Hamilton leads the series 1-0, defeating Syracuse 3-1 on October 18. Hamilton center Benoit Gratton leads all players in head to head scoring with two points (2a) in one game. Goaltender Ty Conklin appeared in net, posting the win, and recording a 1.00 goals against average and .963 save percentage. Goaltender Pascal Leclaire appeared in goal for the Crunch recording the loss, a 3.03 goals against average and a .900 save percentage. Lifetime, Syracuse is 18-26-7 against Hamilton.

CHICAGO (ATLANTA THRASHERS): The defending Calder Cup Champions visit the War Memorial at Oncenter this Friday for the first of two regular season meetings between the clubs and a rematch of last year's Western Conference Quarterfinals. Right wing J.P. Vigier leads the Wolves with ten points (6g, 4a) in ten games. Goaltender Norm Maracle has appeared in seven games this season, posting a 1-4-1 record, a 3.19 goals against average and .893 save percentage. This is the first time the two teams will play during the regular season.

WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON (PITTSBURGH PENGUINS): Wilkes-Barre travels to Syracuse for the first of eight regular season meetings on Saturday, November 9. Right wing Tom Kostopoulos leads the Penguins with eight points (4g, 4a) in 10 games. Goaltender Sebastien Caron has appeared in nine games posting a 3-5-1 record, a 3.05 goals against average and a .904 save percentage. Lifetime, Syracuse is 9-7-2 against Wilkes-Barre.

INJURY UPDATE: Defenseman Darrel Scoville is expected to miss another week with a groin injury. Scoville, who injured his groin October 26 vs. Grand Rapids, has missed three games with the injury... Center Blake Bellefeuille is out until this weekend with a concussion he suffered in Saturday's game against Cincinnati.

Check out the Syracuse Crunch Statistics

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American Hockey League Stories from November 4, 2002


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