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AHL Syracuse Crunch

Sigalet Shines on the Back End

November 4, 2008 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Syracuse Crunch News Release


It was a week to remember for Syracuse Crunch defenseman Jonathan Sigalet, as he tallied four points (2g, 2a), in three games.

Sigalet is no stranger to contributing points from the blueline, registering 21 goals and 60 assists in 199 AHL games with Providence before coming to the Columbus Blue Jackets organization in an off-season trade.

After netting only one assist in his first four games this season, Sigalet's first goal as a member of the Crunch was a huge one, scoring the overtime-winner in a 4-3 come-from-behind win vs. Binghamton October 24.

He has embarked in an offensive onslaught since then, racking up six points (2g, 4a), in his last four games. His most significant effort came Saturday night in Rockford, again in dramatic fashion.

Having already assisted on the Crunch's first marker of the game and down by a goal with less than five and a half minutes to play, Sigalet took it upon himself to will Syracuse to another come-from-behind win.

All he did was score the game-tying and game-winning goals, the latter coming with just 1:09 remaining in the third period for a 4-3 Crunch victory, earning first star honors in the process.

Through nine games this season, Sigalet is tied for the team lead with eight points (3g, 5a). Those numbers also place him in a tie for fourth place in scoring among defensemen in the AHL.

GOALTENDERS GETTING IT DONE: One concern Crunch fans might have had at the beginning of this season was the question mark and lack of experience in between the pipes.

Before this season started, Crunch goaltenders had a combined 34 games of AHL experience under their belts, all coming by way of Dan LaCosta. Through his first five games this season, LaCosta has gone 5-0-0 with a 2.08 goals against average and .929 save percentage. For his effort and due to an injury to Pascal Leclaire in Columbus, LaCosta was recalled October 26.

Coming off a knee injury himself, and due to the call-up of LaCosta, that opened the door for 20-year old rookie and highly-touted prospect Steve Mason to show what he can do. In his first three games this season, he has not disappointed, going 2-1-0 with a 1.63 goals against average and .937 save percentage.

Mason looked at ease in his first professional start last Wednesday night in Grand Rapids, turning aside 32 of 33 Griffins shots and out-dueling Syracuse native Jimmy Howard to pick up the 2-1 win, his first as a professional.

Overall, Crunch netminders have allowed just 22 goals in the first nine games and stopped 253 of 275 total shots, good for a 2.39 team goals against average and .920 save percentage. The Crunch are currently tied with Portland for third in fewest goals against in the AHL.

THIS WEEK'S OPPONENTS:

BINGHAMTON SENATORS (OTTAWA SENATORS): The Crunch finish up their four-game road trip with a short drive down I-81 to Binghamton Friday night to take on the B-Sens at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena. These two clubs could be in for a close game if history repeats itself, as both games they have played against each other this season have seen overtime. Syracuse defeated Binghamton in a come-from-behind shootout victory on October 17, converting on four of five shootout attempts for the 3-2 win. The Crunch also defeated the B-Sens on October 24, again coming back from a two-goal deficit to win on Jonathan Sigalet's overtime goal. Craig MacDonald (2g, 1a), Maksim Mayorov (0g, 3a) and Clay Wilson (2g, 1a), have led the offensive charge for the Crunch with three points each in the season series, while Dan LaCosta has gone 2-0-0 with a 2.33 goals against average and .930 save percentage against Binghamton. Ilya Zubov has tallied three points (2g, 1a), in the series for the Senators.

MANITOBA MOOSE (VANCOUVER CANUCKS): The Crunch welcome in the Manitoba Moose for the first of four meetings this season and first match-up since the Crunch's dramatic Game Six overtime victory to eliminate the Moose in the North Division Semifinals last Spring. Aaron Rome (1g, 2a) and Clay Wilson (0g, 3a), helped lead the scoring attack in the season series with the Moose last year, while Adam Pineault chipped in two goals. Jason Jaffray (4g, 1a) and Jimmy Sharrow (1g, 4a), led the attack for Manitoba. History tells us that these two clubs are very evenly matched, as the Crunch edged Manitoba by one point for second place in the North Division in 2007-08, needed six games to dispatch them in the North Division Semifinals and are 11-11-2 all-time against the Moose.

HOUSTON AEROS (MINNESOTA WILD): Syracuse welcomes in a rare West Division opponent in the form of the Houston Aeros for a matinee match-up on Sunday. The Crunch were 1-0-0-1 in two meetings with Houston last season and own a 4-3-1 all-time record against them. The Crunch took a 3-2 decision in Houston on October 30 last season and fell in a shootout, 5-4, on February 22 at the War Memorial at Oncenter. Derek MacKenzie tallied two points (1g, 1a), while Derick Brassard notched two assists in the one game he skated in. Erik Reitz and Clayton Stoner tallied three points (1g, 2a), each in the season series.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS:

CRUNCH ANNOUNCE DETAILS OF TIME WARNER CABLE 'BUY ONE, GET ONE FREE' PROMOTION: The Syracuse Crunch announced the details of the Time Warner Cable ' Buy One, Get One Free' game on Sunday, November 9.

Anyone that purchases a ticket from now until November 9 to the Crunch's Sunday, November 9 (3:00 p.m. start time) game against the Houston Aeros will receive a ticket of equal or lesser value free to that night's game, compliments of Time Warner Cable (discount not valid with any other offer.)

CRUNCH ANNOUNCE DETAILS OF NEW YORK STATE LOTTERY NIGHT: The Syracuse Crunch announced that their Sunday, November 9 game against Houston will be New York State Lottery Night at the Crunch.

The first 500 fans 18 and over in attendance will receive one (1) Take Five coupon, courtesy of New York State Lottery. Lottery tickets will be available for purchase at the New York State Lottery table, located on the concourse.

In addition, fans will have the opportunity to catch one of 25 Lucky Lottery Penguins that will be tossed into the crowd during the first intermission. Any fan that catches a Lucky Lottery Penguin can bring it to the New York Sate Lottery table, located on the concourse, and redeem it for a prize pack that includes lottery tickets and merchandise.

PRACTICE SCHEDULE: The Crunch's weekly schedule is as follows:

Tuesday, Novmeber 4 10:30 a.m. Practice @ Tsha'Hon'nonyen'dakhwa

Wednesday, November 5 10:30 a.m. Practice @ Tsha'Hon'nonyen'dakhwa

Thursday, November 6 10:30 a.m. Practice @ Tsha'Hon'nonyen'dakhwa

Friday, November 7 10:00 a.m. Skate @ Tsha'Hon'nonyen'dakhwa

Game @ Binghamton 7:05 p.m.

Saturday, November 8 10:00 a.m. Skate @ War Memorial at Oncenter

Game vs. Manitoba 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, November 9 Practice TBD

Game vs. Houston 3:00 p.m.

CRUNCHABLES: Saturday night's game in Rockford was the first time Nikita Filatov has been held scoreless...Jonathan Sigalet had his four-game point-scoring streak snapped on Sunday @ Chicago...The Crunch set a season-low by taking just six minutes worth of penalties on Sunday @ Chicago...The Crunch are 5-1 in one-goal games this season...Syracuse is 7-0 when they score two goals or more...The Crunch are 4-0-0-0 against North Division opponents...Syracuse was 29-12-2-0 against North Division opponents last season...The Crunch have had 12 players record multiple-point games in the first nine contests this season.

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