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AHL Syracuse Crunch

Moran Strong in Return

February 10, 2003 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Syracuse Crunch News Release


Center Brad Moran returned from a ten-game absence with quite a bang this week, recording six points in three games (Moran sat out Saturday's game vs. Cincinnati as a precaution), including three assists his first night back (Wednesday, February 5 @ Rochester) and two goals in his second game back (Friday, February 7 vs. Cleveland). Prior to his return, Moran missed the last ten and 30 total games with an abdominal injury, originally suffered on November 22 vs. Bridgeport. His short-handed tally on Friday night tied him with Lonny Bohonos and Rod Stevens for most career short-handed goals in Crunch history at six. In addition, with his two-goal effort vs. Cleveland, Moran moved into a tenth place tie with Mark Wotton on the Crunch's all-time goals list with 40. A native of Abbotsford, BC, Moran has appeared in 155 career games with the Crunch, recording 40 goals, 52 assists and 95 penalty minutes He made his National Hockey League debut with Columbus on January 28, 2002 @ Dallas and has played in three career NHL games, without a point. Originally selected by the Buffalo Sabres with their 8th choice, 191st overall, in the 1998 Entry Draft, Columbus signed Moran as a free agent on June 5, 2000.

WHAT BAD CALLS?: The Crunch was at it again Sunday night @ Philadelphia, scoring their fourth short-handed goal (Reich) in the last four games. The goal was the 13th for the Crunch short-handed this season, two short of the team record of 15 set during the 1999-00 season. Kent McDonell leads the Crunch with three short-handed goals this season.

CRUNCH FIND CONSISTENCY: Despite a weekend in which the Crunch went (0-2-1) the club has earned at least one point in 8 of their last 11 games (4-3-2-2).

MATHIEU! MATHIEU!: Left wing Mathieu Darche continued his strong play this weekend, netting three goals and two assists. Darche's goal in Philadelphia last night was his 22nd, tying his career mark set last season. Darche enters this week having recorded at least one point in 9 of his last 11 games (7g, 5a).

PLAYOFF PICTURE: The Crunch (41 points) enter this week ten points behind the Rochester Americans (51 points) for the tenth and final playoff position in the Western Conference with 27 games remaining. Syracuse currently holds the 13th spot in the Conference, three points behind Cincinnati (44 points) and nine points behind Philadelphia (50 points).

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS:

Tuesday, February 11

Tully's Billiards Tournament: On Tuesday, February 11, Crunch players Dan Watson and Tim Jackman will be at Tully's on Erie Boulevard at 6 p.m. to compete in the Tully's Billiards Tournament and sign autographs. Tully's Billiards Tournament is open to the public.

Wednesday, February 12

Labatt's Celebrity Bartending Night: Crunch players Trevor Ettinger, Tim Jackman and Mike Pandolfo will serve as celebrity bartenders at Crossroads Tavern on 7th North Street on Wednesday, February 12 from 4-6 p.m. All tips generated by the players will be donated to the Francis House.

Friday, February 14

Empire Vision Centers Poster Night: On of the most popular giveaways in team history returns on Friday, February 14, when each fan in attendance will receive the ninth-annual Empire Vision Centers Crunch poster. This year's poster depicts the team surrounding a F-16C Fighting Falcon from the 174th Fighter Wing New York Air National Guard in Syracuse, NY, wearing Empire Vision sunglasses.

Monday, February 17

Dollar Beer Night: On Monday, February 17 all draft beer at the Crunch's game with be a $1 for all fans 21 and older with ID.

THIS WEEK'S OPPONENTS:

ST. JOHN'S MAPLE LEAFS (TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS): Syracuse returns to the War Memorial at Oncenter on Friday, February 14 for the second of four regular season meetings this season. St. John's leads the series 1-0, after blanking Syracuse 4-0 on December 27. St. John's center Alexei Ponikarovsky (1g, 1a) leads all players with two points. St. John's goaltender Mikael Tellqvist recorded the shutout for the Maple Leafs stopping all 35 Crunch shots. Pascal Leclaire appeared in net for Syracuse, making 26 saves. Lifetime, the Crunch is 11-6-0 against the Maple Leafs.

CLEVELAND (SAN JOSE SHARKS): The Crunch host the Cleveland Barons on Saturday, February 16 in the fourth of six regular season meetings. Cleveland leads the series 2-1-0, defeating Syracuse 4-3 in their last meeting on February 7 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus. Center Jeff Nelson (9a) leads all players in head-to-head scoring with nine points. Defenseman Radim Bicanek (1g, 3a) and left wing Mathieu Darche (1g, 3a) pace the Crunch with four points. Cleveland goaltender Vesa Toskala has appeared in two games, with a 2-0-0 record, a 2.50 goals against average and a .928 save percentage. Goaltender Pascal Leclaire has appeared in three games for Syracuse with a 1-1-0 record, a 3.80 goals against average and a .852 save percentage. Lifetime, Syracuse is 7-5-1 against the Barons.

INJURY UPDATE: Defenseman Darrel Scoville is expected to miss one-to-three weeks with a foot injury suffered on January 6 @ Philadelphia... Scoville has missed 16 games with the injury... Defenseman Duvie Westcott is expected to miss one week after suffering a mild concussion on February 1 against Rochester. Westcott has missed four games with the injury.

INJURIES BY THE NUMBERS: Through 53 games this season, Syracuse has lost 137 man-games due to injuries Darrel Scoville - 47, Brad Moran - 20, Trent Cull - 14, Paul Manning - 9, Pauli Levokari - 8, Blake Bellefeuille & Ben Knopp - 5, Andrej Nedorost & Duvie Westcott - 4, Radim Bicanek & Kent McDonell - 3, Martin Paroulek & Dan Watson - 2, Adam Borzecki & Trevor Ettinger - 1, represent the Crunch's injury list this season.

2002-03 RECORD: 16-28-6-3, 41 points (7-15-3-2 home, 9-13-3-1 road), fourth place, Central Division

THIS WEEK'S GAMES

Friday, February 14 vs. St. John's (18-30-5-1), 42 points, fourth place, Canadian Division
Saturday, February 15 vs. Cleveland (15-32-3-4), 37 points, fifth place, Central Division

LAST WEEK'S RESULTS

Wednesday, February 5 Crunch 4 ROCHESTER 1
Friday, February 7 Cleveland 4 CRUNCH 3
Saturday, February 8 CRUNCH 1 OT Cincinnati 1
Sunday, February 9 PHILADELPHIA 5 Crunch 3

HOME TEAM IN CAPS

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