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AHL Syracuse Crunch

Syracuse Crunch Weekly

February 9, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Syracuse Crunch News Release


LAST WEEK

Wed., Feb. 4 - Crunch vs. Hartford - W, 3-2

Fri., Feb. 6 - Crunch vs. Bridgeport - OTL, 2-1

Sat., Feb. 7 - Crunch vs. Springfield - OTL, 2-1

THIS WEEK

Tue., Feb. 10 - Crunch at Adirondack - 7 p.m.

Fri., Feb. 13 - Crunch at Norfolk - 7:30 p.m.

Sat., Feb. 14 - Crunch at Norfolk - 7:15 p.m.

NEED TO KNOW

Syracuse claimed four of six possible points in Week 18 and own the Eastern Conference's best record, 29-11-7-0.

Tampa Bay acquired three forwards for the Crunch last week: Carter Ashton, David Broll and Nicolas Deschamps.

The Crunch make their final regular season trips to Adirondack and Norfolk this week; both will be relocating.

Bolts make moves to bolster Crunch corps

The Crunch have added five skaters to their roster in the last eight days. Forwards Danick Gauthier, Nicolas Deschamps, Carter Ashton, and David Broll along with defenseman Artem Sergeev were acquired through various means over the past week.

Gauthier was reassigned to Syracuse after totaling 35 points (16g, 19a) in 40 games with Wichita (ECHL) this season. He was reassigned to Wichita Sunday. The third-year pro had 17 points (8g, 9a) in 57 games with Syracuse over the previous two seasons.

Deschamps and Sergeev are also familiar names to Crunch fans; Deschamps played 111 games with Syracuse in the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons, putting up 53 points (20g, 33a) before Anaheim traded him to Toronto. Sergeev spent all of last season with Syracuse, totaling 10 points (3g, 7a) in 68 games. Deschamps was acquired off AHL waivers on Tuesday, while Sergeev was reassigned from Florida (ECHL).

Ashton and Broll were acquired in a trade with the Toronto Friday. Ashton made his Crunch debut Saturday with two shots; Broll is slated to make his debut this week. Ashton played seven games with the Maple Leafs this season and 12 with the Toronto Marlies, recording four goals and four assists. The winger has played 54 career NHL games, all with the Leafs. Broll skated 21 games with the Marlies and 16 games with the Orlando Solar Bears (ECHL) this season, notching nine points (2g, 7a). Broll has played 94 career AHL games, all with the Marlies.

York's back in the Crunch net

Allen York started his first Crunch game this season Saturday night, stopping 34 of 36 shots in Syracuse's 2-1 OT loss to Bridgeport. Despite two previous callups to Syracuse, the 25-year-old had only played for the Florida Everblades this year, totaling a 2.64 goals-against-average in 24 ECHL starts with a league-best four shutouts.

York has spent time in the Crunch cage before; he started four games for Syracuse last season, posting a 2.92 goals-against-average and a .900 save percentage. The Alberta native has seen it all in his six-year pro career. York began his professional odyssey with four games in Springfield in 2010-11, then saw time at all three pro levels the following year. York played five games with Springfield and 11 games with the Chicago Express (ECHL) sandwiched between 11 games with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2011-12. The 6-foot-3 R.P.I. alumnus had a 2.30 goals-against-average and a .919 save percentage in his only stint in the NHL.

York spent the 2012-13 season splitting time between Springfield and Evansville (ECHL) before a whirlwind 2013-14 campaign. Last season saw York play 32 games for six different teams, four in the AHL (Charlotte, Texas, Rockford, Syracuse) and two in the ECHL (Evansville, South Carolina). York spent the majority of the season in South Carolina, starting 20 games and totaling a 2.87 goals-against-average.

Namestnikov steady presence in Syracuse

Third-year Crunch forward Vladislav Namestnikov has played as many AHL games, 25, with Syracuse as NHL games with Tampa Bay this season. In his 25 games with the Lightning, the 2011 first-round pick accumulated three goals and seven points. He ranks best on the Crunch in points-per-game (.96), totaling 24 points.

In Syracuse this season, Namestnikov has not gone longer than back-to-back games without a point, notching at least one point in 18 of 25 games. With two assists Wednesday in a 3-2 win against Hartford, the 6-foot, 182-lb. center earned his fifth multi-point outing of the season. His goal Friday was his first in six games.

Namestnikov was Crunch co-MVP last year, totaling 48 points (19g, 29a) in 56 games and a team-best 14 multi-point games. He recorded 21 points in 44 games as a rookie in 2012-13, plus six postseason points (2g, 4a).

Week in review

Game 45: Three in the third propel Crunch to 3-2 win vs. Wolf Pack

Three third-period goals in a span of 5:37 led Syracuse past Hartford, 3-2, Wednesday at the War Memorial Arena, extending the Crunch's win streak to five games. The comeback victory was topped off by Charlie Dodero's first AHL goal, which came late in the third period. Yanni Gourde assisted on all three goals, while Kristers Gudlevski's stopped 15 shots to earn his 15th win.

Syracuse capitalized on its fourth and sixth power plays of the night to tie the game. Trailing 2-0 halfway through the final frame, Wolf Pack forward Chad Nehring was assessed two minutes for goaltender interference, before his teammate, Joey Crabb, took two minutes for tripping. In the ensuing 5-on-3, Syracuse defenseman Jake Dotchin fired a one-timer from the high slot, giving Syracuse its first goal of the contest, his second in three games. Yanni Gourde and Vladislav Namestnikov earned the helpers.

Four minutes later, after an Oscar Lindberg tripping minor, following Joey Mormina point drive, Dalton Smith found a loose puck near the crease and jammed it home to tie the game, 2-2. Slater Koekkoek and Yanni Gourde assisted on Smith's 10th goal of the season at the 14:39 mark.

The Crunch gained the lead 76 seconds later. Defenseman Charlie Dodero, playing in his eighth AHL game, received a crisp pass from Namestnikov at the right point and ripped a slap shot that found its way through the pads of Wolf Pack netminder Yann Danis. Namestnikov and Gourde provided helpers on Syracuse's 49th third-period goal of the season, second most in the AHL. Gourde notched his 11th multi-point game and has five points in two games and 34 for the season.

Game 46: Sound Tigers prevail in OT to snap Crunch run

Kael Mouillierat's breakaway goal at the 3:36 mark of overtime propelled the Sound Tigers to a 2-1 victory over the Crunch Friday at the War Memorial Arena, snapping Syracuse's five-game win streak. Neither side collected a goal until the final frame, when both teams earned one goal to force the extra period. Crunch netminder Kristers Gudlevskis made 30 saves, but was slapped with his first overtime loss.

Bridgeport broke the scoreless tie nearly eight minutes into the third period. Jake Dotchin blocked the initial shot from the high slot, but Jesse Graham corralled the puck and sent a slap shot past Gudlevskis to give the Sound Tigers a 1-0 lead. The tally, which came at the 7:41 mark, was assisted by Cory Conacher and Kael Mouillierat.

Syracuse responded 56 seconds later, with its only goal of the night. Vladislav Namestnikov scored his first goal in six games when his wrist shot ricocheted in front of the net and slipped past Sound Tigers goalie David Leggio, tying the game, 1-1.

In overtime Syracuse logged four shots on goal, but Kael Mouillerat's shot halfway through the extra frame was Bridgeport's game-winner. Mouillerat snuck behind the Crunch defense and received a tape-to-tape stretch pass from Jesse Graham before slipping the puck between the legs of Gudlevskis.

Both teams finished 0-for-4 on the man advantage, while David Leggio stopped 29 shots to earn his seventh win of the season.

Game 47: Falcons claim overtime win in Syracuse, 2-1

Marko Dano's overtime goal lifted the Falcons over the Crunch, 2-1, Saturday at the War Memorial, beating Syracuse goalie Allen York in his AHL season debut. Crunch center Mike Angelidis provided the lone tally for Syracuse in the third period to force overtime.

Dano's left-circle shot snuck over York's right shoulder at the 4:13 mark of the extra session during three-on-three hockey. Former Crunch winger Dana Tyrell earned the assist. Recalled from the ECHL's Florida Everblades Feb. 2, the 26-year-old York stopped 34 of 36 shots.

After a first-period goal, Springfield's 1-0 lead lasted until the 12:37 mark of the third period. Mike Angelidis' 15th goal of the season, the team's third power play goal this week, tied the score, 1-1. Counter-clockwise cycling from Joey Mormina to Slater Koekkoek reached Tanner Richard in the left wing corner. Richard's quick stick to Angelidis between the circles created the captain's one-time bid that squeaked through Oscar Dansk's legs. Syracuse finished 1-for-5 on the man advantage and has power-play goals in four of the last six games.

In his second start against the Crunch this season, Springfield netminder Oscar Dansk recorded a season-high 39 saves. Dansk also bested the Crunch Oct. 26, earning his first AHL win in a 5-1 Falcons victory.

THE WEEK AHEAD

Crunch at Adirondack- Tuesday, 7 p.m.

ESPN Radio 97.7 FM & 1200 AM, Syracuse; 100.1 FM & 1440 AM, Oswego

The Crunch travel to Glens Falls for the second time this year, and last time against the Flames, who will be moving to Stockton, Calif., at the end of the season. The final two matchups between the teams will take place at the War Memorial. Adirondack bested Syracuse, 4-1, in Glens Falls on Nov. 21. Calgary's affiliate currently holds the No. 8 position in the Western Conference with a 24-19-3-1 record (52 points).

The top scorer for the Flames, Drew Shore, scored most of his 33 points (10g, 23a) for a different team. The Florida Panthers traded Shore for Corbin Knight on Jan. 10. The 24-year-old center has tallied three points (1g, 2a) in six games since his Jan. 23 debut with Adirondack. Emile Poirier leads the Flames with 13 goals and ranks second on the squad with 28 points.

Joni Ortio represents the Flames between the pipes with 19 wins in 32 starts, fourth best in the AHL. He's also posted a 2.30 goals-against average and a .925 save percentage in his fourth year at the AHL level. Brad Thiessen has back-up duty for Ortio and has a 5-7-3 record in 16 starts with a .914 save percentage and 2.68 goals-against average.

The Flames haven't found a victory yet in three February games and are 4-6-2-0 in 2015. In six contests against the Eastern Conference, Adirondack is 3-2-1-0 with a 2-1-0-0 record against the Northeast Division, splitting two games with Albany and defeating Syracuse.

Crunch at Norfolk- Friday, 7:30 and Saturday, 7:15 p.m.

ESPN Radio 97.7 FM & 1200 AM, Syracuse; 100.1 FM & 1440 AM, Oswego

For the final time in the regular season the Crunch will travel to Norfolk to face the Admirals, who will be relocating to San Diego next season, to be 3,000 miles closer to parent-club Anaheim. The back-to-back matchup against the Admirals will be the final contests between the two this year. The Admirals rank 14th in the Eastern Conference with a 19-24-3-2 record (43 points).

Syracuse and Norfolk split their back-to-back matchup at the War Memorial in November with the Admirals winning the first game in overtime, 4-3, and the Crunch taking a one-goal victory the next night. In November, Igor Bobkov started in net against the Crunch, but has since been reassigned to Utah (ECHL). Norfolk has started six goalies this season, but have relied on Jason LaBarbera and John Gibson in the last six weeks. Gibson leads Norfolk goalies with six wins in 11 starts, a 2.07 goals-against average, and a .935 save percentage. LaBarbera has posted a 5-8-3 record in 17 starts. The two have rotated games since Bobkov last started Jan. 11.

Nic Kerdiles leads the Admirals with 25 points (8g, 17a) in 48 games this season. Chris Wagner and Emerson Etem are tied for the team lead with 13 goals each. Etem has only played 20 games this season, posting seven multi-point games, including a hat trick against Binghamton on Jan. 30. The 22-year-old winger recorded his first AHL point with the Crunch on Apr. 15, 2011, when he scored a goal against Albany.

Norfolk has a 4-4-2-0 record in its last 10 games and have the second-lowest goals-per-game (2.17) in the league. The Admirals are 11-10-3-1 at the Norfolk Scope this season, and have lost seven of their last 10 home games.

Check out the Syracuse Crunch Statistics



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