AHL Syracuse Crunch

MacKenzie's Four Helpers Help Crunch Past Penguins

Published on March 5, 2010 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Syracuse Crunch News Release


Syracuse, NY - The new-look Crunch put on a show Friday night, as they defeated division rival Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 5-2 at the War Memorial at Oncenter. Captain Derek MacKenzie dished out a personal and team season-high four assists, while Dan Fritsche and Brent Regner chipped in a goal and an assist each.

With the win, Syracuse pulled to within five-points of fourth place Wilkes-Barre/Scranton with 18 games remaining.

The Crunch started off with a bang, tallying their first score just two minutes into the opening period. After a Joe Vitale tripping penalty, Syracuse's Brent Regner rifled a slapper from the right point on a perfect feed from MacKenzie through a crowd in front of Penguins netminder John Curry for the early 1-0 lead.

The Crunch struck again at the 12:01 mark when defenseman Nick Holden fired a laser from the left point that eluded Curry for his fourth goal of the season to make it 2-0. The play was set up by hard work along the boards by Fritsche and MacKenzie, who slid a crisp pass back to Holden before the shot.

The Penguins got their first legitimate scoring opportunity with five minutes remaining in the second period. Left wing Tim Wallace sent a lead pass up the boards to center Dustin Jeffrey, sparking a 2-on-1 rush with Mark Letestu into the Crunch zone.

Jeffrey and Letestu executed a textbook give-and-go, finished off by a soft one-timer that snuck between Crunch goalie Kevin Lalande's pads. Letestu's 19th goal of the season brought the Penguins within one goal heading into the third period at 2-1.

The Crunch started to pull away in the third period when Brendan Bell fired home a shot from the top of the left circle during a Syracuse power play to put the Crunch back up by two at 3-1

The onslaught continued after Syracuse was given a 5-on-3 advantage following two separate Penguin minors for hooking and unsportsmanlike conduct. Newcomer Chad Kolarik, who was acquired by Columbus at the trade deadline from Phoenix, tallied his first goal as a member of the Crunch and 18th of the season to make it 4-1 at the 14:25 mark.

Dan Fritsche made it a four goal game when he intercepted a pass on a Wilkes-Barre/Scranton power play, scoring his 13th goal of the season on a shorthanded effort to give the Crunch a 5-1 lead with three minutes remaining.

The Penguins were able to put a meaningless goal past Syracuse netminder Lalande with 30 seconds remaining. Alex Grant's soft wrist shot from the point found its way past Lalande's blocker to make it a 5-2 game, which was ultimately the games final score.

The Crunch continue a busy weekend as they host the Portland Pirates on Saturday, March 6 at 7:30 p.m. at the War Memorial at Oncenter.

Check out the Syracuse Crunch Statistics

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