AHL Syracuse Crunch

Syracuse Crunch Weekly

October 22, 2012 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Syracuse Crunch News Release


Need to Know

- The Crunch have won four straight games and have an AHL-best nine points at 4-0-0-1.

- After trailing 5-0 Saturday at Binghamton, the Crunch rallied for a 6-5 overtime victory.

- The Crunch return from a three-game roadtrip to play home games Saturday and Sunday.

WEEK IN REVIEW

Game 3: Crunch battle from behind for 3-2 win in Albany

For the second time of the young season, Syracuse allowed an opponent to score in the opening minute of play, and just like the previous occasion, the Crunch battled back. But this time, Syracuse won, 3-2, over the Devils.

Albany built leads of 1-0 and 2-1, but two power play-goals got the Crunch even. Tyler Johnson potted the first at 7:45 of the first period with Cory Conacher and Ondrej Palat assisting. Syracuse made it 2-for-2 on the man advantage with J.T. Brown's first professional goal at 10:44 of the second period with two other rookies, Alex Killorn and Vlad Namestnikov, doing the setup.

Mike Angelidis put the Crunch in the lead for the first time at 16:44 of the second period, scoring his third goal of the year 25 seconds after Syracuse's third power play ended. Defensemen Mark Barberio and Jared Nightingale assisted. Dustin Tokarski shut the door, finishing with 25 saves on 27 Devils shots for his first win of the season.

Game 4: Panik caps stunning comeback in OT as Crunch stun Sens, 6-5

Syracuse erased a 5-0 deficit to win 6-5 in overtime Saturday at Binghamton. Richard Panik recorded his first three points of the season: assists on Syracuse's fourth and fifth goals, and scoring the game winner in overtime.

A game with 152 combined penalty minutes, 14 majors and three misconducts boiled over at 9:30 of the second frame when Binghamton goalie Robin Lehner took a game misconduct following two fighting majors, including a bout with Crunch netminder Riku Helenius. Both goalies were replaced, and Dustin Tokarski made 14 saves for Syracuse in relief as the Crunch comeback began shortly thereafter in the second period.

Cory Conacher scored his third of the season at 10:29 (assist to Tyler Johnson) and Mark Barberio came through on the power play two minutes later (assists to Johnson and Brett Connolly) but the Crunch still trailed 5-2 after 40 minutes. Third-period goals from Brett Connolly at 6:57 (from P.C. Labrie and Dmitry Korobov), Ondrej Palat at 11:39 (from Johnson and Panik) and J.T. Wyman at 16:18 (from Panik and Barberio) tied the game.

Game 5: Crunch build early lead, hold off Penguins, 3-1

Topping the winless Penguins, 3-1, defenseman Keith Aulie scored his first goal of the season and received first-star honors, as the Crunch capped a three-game, three-city roadtrip.

Brett Connolly and Ondrej Palat set up Aulie's goal on the rush at 3:38 of the first, and insurance scoring came later in the period. W-B/Scranton's Joe Morrow took a major boarding penalty and game misconduct at 13:20 and the Crunch scored twice on the resulting five-minute power play. Connolly and Palat again assisted as Cory Conacher scored his fourth of the year at 16:03. Tyler Johnson notched his team-leading fifth goal at 17:54 with Mark Barberio and Alex Killorn picking up assists.

Dustin Tokarski was less than two minutes away from a shutout when former Crunch player Phil Dupuis scored on the power play with the goalie pulled for an extra attacker. Tokarski held on for his third win with 20 saves.

Notes

- The Crunch boast three of the top-10 scorers in the American Hockey League: 1. Cory Conacher (9), T-2. Tyler Johnson (8), T-3. Ondrej Palat (7). Mark Barberio has the second most points among defensemen, six, which is also tied for fourth most in the league overall.

- Four Crunch players have recorded points in each of Syracuse's first five games: Cory Conacher, Tyler Johnson, Ondrej Palat and Mark Barberio. No other players in the AHL with five games played have matched that streak.

- Tyler Johnson recorded five points (2g, 3a) in Week 2, scoring power play goals Friday at Albany and Sunday at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and assisting three times Saturday at Binghamton. The second-year pro has five goals on the season, tied for the league lead, three power-play tallies, tied for the league lead, and eight points, tied for second most in the league.

- Syracuse has sole possession of first place in the AHL with nine points at 4-0-0-1. Lake Erie, Chicago and Norfolk are tied for second with eight points.

- Goaltender Dustin Tokarski earned victories in all three games for the Crunch in Week 2, starting Friday at Albany and Sunday at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton while relieving Riku Helenius at 9:30 of the second period Saturday in Binghamton. The Humboldt, SK native made 59 saves in that span, allowing three goals and shaving his goals-against average to 2.19 for the season.

- Richard Panik recorded his first points of the season Saturday at Binghamton. The 21-year-old assisted on Syracuse's fourth and fifth goals and scored the game-winning marker unassisted in overtime.

THE WEEK AHEAD

Crunch vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins - Saturday, 7:30 p.m.

Syracuse returns to the War Memorial for the first time since October 13's home opener, a 4-3 win over Hershey. Saturday's will be the second consecutive game between the Crunch and Penguins, following a 3-1 win for Syracuse in Wilkes-Barre Sunday. The Penguins are 0-4 to start the year, the only team without a point in the AHL and one of only three teams without a victory (Connecticut and Worcester). The Penguins play at home Friday against Rochester before the trip to Syracuse Saturday.

Crunch vs. Adirondack Phantoms - Sunday, 3:00 p.m.

The Crunch and Phantoms meet for the first time in 2012-13 in an afternoon contest at the War Memorial. Adirondack, AHL affilaite of the Philadelphia Flyers, are 2-2 in their first four games, beating Portland and St. John's with losses to Springfield and St. John's. Adirondack has a home-and-home series with Rochester Friday and Saturday before meeting the Crunch Sunday. Ben Walter and Sven Baertschi are the leading scorers for Adirondack, with seven and six points, respectively.

Practice Schedule (subject to change)

Wednesday, Oct. 24 11:00 a.m. practice War Memorial Arena

Thursday, Oct. 25 11: 00 a.m. practice Cicero Twin Rinks

Friday, Oct. 26 11:00 a.m. practice War Memorial Arena

Saturay, Oct. 27 9:30 a.m. morning skate War Memorial Arena

7:30 p.m. game vs. WBS War Memorial Arena

Sunday, Oct. 28 9:30 a.m. morning skate War Memorial Arena

3:00 p.m. game vs. ADK War Memorial Arena

Miller Lite and Molson Canadian Carol Grow appearance and giveaway

The first 1,500 fans in attendance on Oct. 27 when the Crunch take on the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at 7:30 p.m. will receive a schedule poster featuring Crunch spokes model Carol Grow courtesty of Miller Lite and Molson Canadian. Grow will be available to sign autographs in Memorial Hall during the first intermission on Oct. 27. Additionally Grow will be appearing at three local bars on Friday Oct. 26, at each bar fans will be able to enter for the chance to watch one period of Crunch hockey with Grow on Oct. 27. Grow will be appearing at the following bars:

- Nibsy's (201 Ulster St) from 5-6:45 p.m.

- Steve's (401 Milton Ave) from 7-8:45 p.m.

- Blarney Stone (314 Avery Ave) from 9-11 p.m.

Pink in the Rink presented by SUNY Upstate Medical University

The Crunch Foundation, the club's charitable arm, is partnering with SUNY Upstate Medical University to host 'Pink in the Rink', a breast cancer awareness night to benefit the Upstate Cancer Center and Carol M. Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Fund on Saturday October 27 as the team takes on the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at 7:30 p.m.

In honor of breast cancer awareness month, fans are encouraged to wear pink to the Saturday's October 27 game vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive a complimentary pink shirt courtesy of the Crunch and Upstate Cancer Center. A mystery puck sale, silent auction and prize wheel will all benefit Upstate Cancer Center and Carol M. Baldwin Foundation.

Tickets for 'Pink in the Rink' can be purchased for $15 with a portion of the proceeds going to the Upstate Cancer Center and Carol M. Baldwin by using the code 'PinktheRink'.

Costume Contest and Parade

Tickets for children 12 and under to the club's Oct. 28 game against the Adirondack Phantoms are available for $5. During the first intermission on Oct. 28 kids in costume are invited onto the War Memorial Ice for a costume parade and contest. The Crunch will award a prize pack for the most creative costume. Kids interested in participating should gather in the section one corner with two minutes remaining in the first period.

Upcoming Appearances

Wednesday Oct. 24 - Pierre-Cedric Labrie and Eric Neilson will be at Barnes and Noble in Dewitt from

6-8 p.m. for a book signing of the newly released Haunted Hockey in Lake Placid Puck Hog Volume 2 by Christie Casciano.

Thursday, Oct. 25 - Radko Gudas, Mark Barberio and Riku Helenius will be signing autographs at Tully's Good Times on Erie Blvd from 6-8 p.m.

Last Week

Fri., Oct. 19 - Crunch at Albany - W, 3-2

Sat., Oct. 20 - Crunch at Binghamton - W, 6-5 OT

Sun., Oct. 21 - Crunch at WB/Scranton - W, 3-1

This Week

Sat., Oct. 27 - Crunch vs. WB/Scranton, 7:30 p.m.

Sun., Oct. 28 - Crunch vs. Adirondack, 3:00 p.m.

Check out the Syracuse Crunch Statistics



American Hockey League Stories from October 22, 2012


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central