AHL Syracuse Crunch

Week Twenty Five: Getting Offensive

Published on March 29, 2011 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Syracuse Crunch News Release


After struggling to put pucks in the net for a good portion of the season, the Syracuse Crunch offense is now firing on all cylinders. Over the last six games, the Crunch have erupted for 30 goals, an average of five goals per game. Prior to the last six games, the Crunch ranked 29th out of 30 AHL teams with an average of 2.39 goals per game. Since that point, however, the Crunch have improved their goals per game average to 2.60. A number of players have put together impressive streaks and numbers over that span, including rookies Kyle Palmieri, Nick Bonino and Maxime Macenauer and fourth-year pro Patrick Maroon.

Palmieri has led the charge with an amazing 10 goals and three assists during a seven game point streak, including a personal season-high four points (3g, 1a) on March 19 vs. Charlotte. Bonino has also picked up his game recently and has nine points (2g, 7a) over his last nine contests, while fellow first-year AHL'er Macenauer has registered six points (5g, 1a) during a four-game point and goal streak.

Maroon is also riding a personal season-high six game point streak, racking up 11 points (4g, 7a) over that span. In addition, the Crunch's power play has been a major factor in the club's recent success, going 4-for-12 over the last three games.

FIT TO KILL: It is no secret that the Crunch's penalty killing has been a huge reason why they have been so successful in putting together a 10-3-0-0 record over their last 13 games. Over that span the PK unit has killed off 58 of 63 penalties, good for a 92.1% success rate. The Crunch ranked 22nd in the AHL on the penalty kill with an 80.5 % success rate prior to this run, but have moved up seven spots, currently ranking 15th in the league with an 82.7% success rate. Most recently, the PK has been perfect, not allowing a power play goal over the last three games, while killing off all 14 penalties against.

HOME COOKING: Not only have the Crunch been playing better overall, but the club has given the home crowd something to cheer about with their improved play at The Oncenter War Memorial Arena. Syracuse has won four straight games on home ice, its longest streak of the season. The Crunch have improved to 17-15-2-2 and play four of their seven remaining games at home.

FIRST THING'S FIRST: Another reason to point to for the Crunch's recent success can be attributed to the team's excellent starts. Syracuse has scored the first goal in each of the last seven games, going 6-1-0-0 over that span. In addition, during those seven games, the Crunch have struck within the first seven minutes of the game five times. For the season, the Crunch have scored first in 35 of their 73 games, going 23-10-1-1 (.686 winning %).

UPCOMING GAMES:

TORONTO MARLIES (TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS): The Crunch head to Canada's most populous city on Wednesday for an 11 a.m. match-up with the Toronto Marlies. This will be the fourth and final contest of the season between these two clubs, as the Crunch will be looking to even up the season series after winning one of the first three games. The one victory was a 1-0 shutout in the most recent match-up on March 18. Kyle Palmieri scored the Crunch's lone goal in that game, while Timo Pielmeier made 30 saves to record his first professional shutout. For Toronto, Simon Gysbers leads his club and all players in the season series with three points (1g, 2a), while teammates Fabian Brunnstrom and Josh Engel have each scored two goals against the Crunch this year. Ben Scrivens has started all three games against Syracuse this season, going 2-1-0 with a 1.34 goals against average and .962 save percentage.

BINGHAMTON SENATORS (OTTAWA SENATORS): The Crunch will be looking to snap their six-game losing streak against I-81 rival Binghamton when the Senators make the trek north on Friday. This will mark the eighth and final meeting of the 2010-11 campaign between the two clubs, with the Crunch's only win coming by a 2-1 score back on October 16. Nicolas Deschamps leads the Crunch with four points (3g, 1a) in the season series, while AHL leading scorer Corey Locke leads Binghamton and all players in the season series with 11 points (2g, 9a).

ADIRONDACK PHANTOMS (PHILADELPHIA FLYERS): The Crunch travel to Glens Falls on Saturday to take on the Adirondack Phantoms for the eighth and final time this season. Syracuse will be looking for its second win of the year against Adirondack, as the Phantoms have taken six of the first seven games. Kyle Palmieri has seven points (3g, 4a) in the season series for the Crunch, while Michael Ryan (4g, 4a) and Denis Hamel lead their club and all players with eight points each against the Crunch this year.

WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON PENGUINS (PITTSBURGH PENGUINS): The Crunch return home for their third game in three days and last Sunday home game of the year when they take on Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on April 3 at 3 p.m. at The Oncenter War Memorial Arena. Syracuse is 3-2-0-0 in five previous meetings against the Penguins this year. The Crunch have had six different players record three points against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this year, while Ryan Craig, Brett Sterling and Tim Wallace have all posted four points (2g, 2a) against the Crunch in 2010-11.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS:

TIME WARNER CABLE JON MIRASTY BOBBLE HEAD GIVEAWAY THIS FRIDAY, APRIL 1: The first 1,500 fans in attendance at the Crunch's Friday, April 1 game vs. Binghamton will receive a Jon Mirasty bobble head, compliments of Time Warner Cable. The limited edition bobble head features one of the most popular players in Crunch history, Jon Mirasty, with arms raised giving his patented 'number one' sign with each hand and wearing the team's road black jersey, complete with name and number.

RIUNITE WINE SAMPLING THIS FRIDAY, APRIL 1: Fans 21 and over at this Friday's game vs. Binghamton will have the opportunity to sample Riunite Lambrusco and Riunite D'Oro, America's all-time favorite wine. Sampling will take place beginning at 6:30 p.m. when doors open through the second intermission, outside of Memorial Hall located on the first floor of The Oncenter War Memorial Arena

CRUNCHABLES: Kyle Palmieri currently ranks second among AHL rookies in goals (24), seventh in points (44) and first in shots (187).The Crunch are tied for third in the AHL with 11 shorthanded goals.Syracuse is 9-0-1-0 at home when leading after the first period.The Crunch lead the AHL in wins when trailing after two periods (9).Rick Schofield picked up his first professional points with an assist Saturday vs. Rochester and a goal on Monday at Bridgeport.

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American Hockey League Stories from March 29, 2011


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