Sens ruin Syracuse's home opener

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Sens ruin Syracuse's home opener

by Ed Gonser
October 19, 2002 - American Hockey League (AHL)


Syracuse, (October 19, 2002)--The Syracuse Crunch opened the home portion of its schedule to a raucous sellout crowd at the Onondaga County War Memorial Saturday night. The Crunch raised its Central Division Championship Banner, introduced the "Scream Squad", a group of fans that tried out for the interactive cheerleading troupe, and the new improved albeit milder manner mascot "Al".

"I've done it (raised a championship banner) two, three four times now ( in coaching career) and it's always a great moment," Syracuse head coach Gary Agnew said. "It's fun for the fans and fun for the owners but you have to get it over with and move on. It's great and nice to see it up there (in the War Memorial rafters)."

The new Binghamton Senators provided the opposition but a lot of the ghosts of old time rivalries past with the Binghamton Rangers still permeated the throng of fans.

Syracuse has a new captain this season. "I think I'm always verbal and I'm an older guy," David Ling said about being named the team's captain. "Some of the stupid penalties (I take) may change but I don't think much else will." So look for Ling to continue to be a burr in the saddle of the Crunch opponents.

Syracuse stumbled off the opening faceoff drawing two obstruction penalties before the game was two minutes old. Rookie goalie Pascal Leclaire showed why he was a No. 1 draft choice a year ago keeping the Senators off the board.

But despite the early penalties and not getting a shot on goal until the game was nearly eight minutes old the 2002-03 edition of the Crunch did enough to bring the fans back for another look but with only one power play goal in 10 advantages and allowing a shorthanded goal to boot left the squad looking for its first win of the young season as Binghamton skated off with a 4-3 win.

"Were moving the puck well on the power play and we're getting chances but we have to be more consistent in getting the puck to the net." Ling said. "Maybe we need to do a better job moving someone in front of the net because if your not going to score on the power play you're not going to win."

Chris Bala picked up a loose puck at his own blueline and raced the length of the ice firing the shorthanded goal high on the short side at 1:26 of the third period, a goal that gave the Senators a three goal lead and proved to be the game winner.

"I didn't like our power play tonight," Crunch head coach Gary Agnew said. "Our timing wasn't good and we were out of sink a little bit. You can practice all you want but the best practice for the power play is playing two games like we have. I think it will get better next week."

Agnew has to hope because at 1-10 it won't get much worse.

Moran scored 1:27 later in the same power play as Syracuse started to mount pressure on Binghamton goalie Ray Emery. Syracuse defenseman Radim Bicanek drew the Crunch to within one in the game's final minute but Emery shut the door for the Senators.

Binghamton drew first blood with a perfect goalmouth pass from Chris Bala to longtime Crunch nemesis Brad Smyth with just over three minutes left in the first period.

Syracuse didn't waste any time answering the Senators tally. Off the ensuing faceoff Duvie Westcott sent Ling away on a two-on-one break with Mathieu Darche. Darche finished the play ripping home a shot past Emery just 10 seconds later.

Syracuse started the second period with a man advantage but the game's advantage went to Binghamton at the midpoint of the contest when Ottawa Senators highly touted 2001 draft pick Jason Spezza set up the go ahead score. Spezza fed Josef Boumedienne who slipped the puck to a trailing Josh Lanfield. Lanfield blistered a shot over the shoulder of Leclaire into the far top corner from the top of the left faceoff circle.

The game's outcome grew more cloudy when Antoine Vermette tried a pass across the crease to a waiting David Hymovitz. The pass never made it, instead Leclaire whiffed at a kick save and the puck trickled into the far corner just inside the left post. Binghamton clamped down on defense as well allowing only six Syracuse shots on Emery while peppering Leclaire with 14.

Leclaire the Columbus Bluejackets No. 1 choice and fourth player taken overall in the 2001 entry draft stopped 28 of 32 Binghamton shots but was overshadowed by Emery who stopped 26 of 29 Syracuse chances.

The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central.

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The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer(s), and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


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