Week Twenty Eight: Brassard Finds His Form--Andrei Attacks--Crunch Announce Details of Dick’s Sporting Goods ‘Buy One, Get One Free’ Promotion set for April 13
Syracuse, NY, (Tuesday, April 8, 2008)
April 8, 2008
2007-08 RECORD: 42-26-2-6, 92 points, (25-9-1-3 home, 17-17-1-3 road), third place, North Division
THIS WEEK’S GAMES
Tuesday, April 8 @ Lake Erie (26-38-6-7, 65 points, sixth place in North Division)
Friday, April 11 @ Rochester (23-43-6-4, 56 points, seventh place in North Division)
Saturday, April 12 vs. Binghamton (34-30-8-5, 81 points, fifth place in East Division)
Sunday, April 13 vs. Hamilton (34-32-3-7, 78 points, fourth place in North Division)
LAST WEEK’S RESULT
Wednesday, April 2 CRUNCH 4 Binghamton 1
Friday, April 4 CRUNCH 4 Rochester 3
Sunday, April 6 Crunch 10 ROCHESTER 3
HOME TEAM IN CAPS
BRASSARD FINDS HIS FORM: Derick Brassard has been on a tear lately. Over his last 10 games, the rookie phenom has accumulated 19 points (6g, 13a).
Brassard started the year in Syracuse where he got off to a blazing start. He scored a goal in his first professional game on October 5 in Rochester and went on to tally 20 points (5g, 15a) in his first 16 games. He was named the AHL’s Rookie of the Month for October.
Brassard then broke his jaw in practice and missed the next five weeks with the injury. Even though he notched five assists in five games with the Crunch after coming back, he did not look like the same player. Columbus recalled him January 10 and he went on to play in 17 NHL games, picking up 2 points (1g, 1a).
He was returned to the Crunch on February 26 where again, he struggled to readjust in his first few games picking up just 2 points (1g, 1a) in his first 7 games. It is since that point that he went on his scoring binge and is a big reason why the Crunch have been able to string together 11 straight wins.
On the season, he has appeared in 38 games for the Crunch, collecting 12 goals, 34 assists and 32 penalty minutes. A native of Hull, Quebec, Brassard was drafted in the first round, sixth overall, in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.
ANDREI ATTACKS: During the Crunch’s recent run and with a roster decimated from call-ups to Columbus, a slew of players have stepped up to contribute offensively, including Russian import defenseman Andrei Plekhanov.
Plekhanov, blessed with a cannon from the blue line, is currently riding a five-game point streak, recording 9 points (6g, 3a) over that span.
Scoring has not been the problem for Plekhanov this season, but cracking the lineup has. The Crunch acquired experienced defensemen Aaron Rome and Clay Wilson in a trade earlier this season, which limited spots on a deep Crunch blue line. Plekhanov seemed to be the odd man out, getting scratched frequently. With recent call-ups, he has been one of the many players getting a chance to show what they can do and he has taken advantage of it.
In 37 games this season, Plekhanov has tallied 24 points (9g, 15a), good for .64 points per game. Plekhanov’s points per game average is better than some of the AHL’s top scoring defensemen, including Peoria’s Micki DuPont (.63) and Toronto’s Derrick Walser (.59). He is the third leading scorer among defensemen on the Crunch, second only to Aaron Rome (on recall to Columbus) and 2008 AHL All-Star Clay Wilson.
ELEVENTH HEAVEN: The Syracuse Crunch’s amazing winning streak was stretched to eleven games with three more victories last week. Over their last 26 games, the Crunch are 20-1-0-5.
The current winning streak of 11 games is the longest in franchise history and the longest in the AHL this season. The team is also riding a 19 game points streak and has not lost a game in regulation since February 18. Syracuse also wrapped up an historic nine-game home stand on Friday night, going 9-0-0-0.
COLUMBUS RETURNS REINFORCEMENTS: The Syracuse Crunch announced yesterday that the Columbus Blue Jackets have returned center Zenon Konopka, defenseman Clay Wilson, left wings Joakim Lindstrom and Tom Sestito and right wings Gilbert Brule and Adam Pineault to Syracuse.
Konopka, 27, has appeared in 59 games for the Crunch this season, tallying 22 goals, 29 assists and 168 penalty minutes. He has also appeared in 3 games for Columbus this season, recording 15 penalty minutes. A native of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Konopka was acquired in a trade from Anaheim along with Curtis Glencross and a seventh round pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft in exchange for Joe Motzko, Mark Hartigan and a fourth round pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft on January 26, 2007.
Wilson, 25, has appeared in 67 combined AHL games for the Crunch and Portland this season, racking up 12 goals, 32 assists and 33 penalty minutes. He has also appeared in 7 games for Columbus this season, recording 1 goal, 1 assist and 2 penalty minutes. A native of Sturgeon Lake, Minnesota, Wilson was acquired in a trade from Anaheim along with Aaron Rome in exchange for Geoff Platt on November 15, 2007.
Lindstrom, 24, has appeared in 45 games for the Crunch this season, notching 23 goals, 31 assists and 64 penalty minutes. He has also appeared in 25 games for Columbus this season, registering 3 goals, 4 assists and 14 penalty minutes. A native of Skelleftea, Sweden, Lindstrom was drafted by Columbus in the second round, 41st overall, in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.
Sestito, 20, has appeared in 62 games for the Crunch this season, netting 7 goals, 15 assists and 198 penalty minutes. He has also appeared in 1 game with Columbus this season, recording 17 penalty minutes. A native of Rome, New York, Sestito was drafted by Columbus in the third round, 85th overall, in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.
Brule, 21, has appeared in 12 games for the Crunch this season, scoring 4 goals, 4 assists and 16 penalty minutes. He has also appeared in 61 games with Columbus this season, tallying 1 goal, 8 assists and 24 penalty minutes. A native of Edmonton, Alberta, Brule was drafted by Columbus in the first round, sixth overall, in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.
Pineault, 21 has appeared in 74 games for the Crunch this season, racking up 21 goals, 27 assists and 64 penalty minutes. He has also appeared in 3 games with Columbus this season. A native of Holyoke, Massachusetts, Pineault was drafted by Columbus in the second round, 46th overall, in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.
THIS WEEK’S OPPONENTS:
LAKE ERIE MONSTERS (COLORADO AVALANCHE): The Crunch travel to Cleveland on Tuesday to take on the Lake Erie Monsters for the final time this season. The Crunch are 4-2-1-0 against the Monsters this season. Three of the seven games in the series so far have gone to overtime. Joakim Lindstrom leads all players in the season series in scoring with 7 points (3g, 4a). Derick Brassard has 3 points (2g, 1a) in two games vs. Lake Erie this year.
ROCHESTER AMERICANS (BUFFALO SABRES/FLORIDA PANTHERS): The Crunch head to Rochester Friday night for the final of twelve meetings and third game in eight days against the Amerks. Syracuse has dominated their North Division arch-rivals this season, going 9-2-0-0 against them. The Crunch have won nine straight games against Rochester after dropping the first two of the season series. Rookie center Derick Brassard leads all players in the season series with 12 points (4g, 8a). Dan LaCosta is 4-1-0-0 with a 1.69 goals-against average and .942 save percentage against the Americans this year.
BINGHAMTON SENATORS (OTTAWA SENATORS): The Crunch welcome the Binghamton Senators to town on Saturday for the final meeting of the season between these two teams. Syracuse holds a 4-3-0-0 record against the B-Sens this year. Alexander Nikulin leads all players in the series in scoring with 9 points (3g, 6a). Derick Brassasrd (1g, 6a) and Zenon Konopka (6g, 1a) are tied for the Crunch lead in scoring in the series with 7 points a piece. Dan LaCosta is 3-0-0-0 with a 1.65 goals-against average and .947 save percentage.
HAMILTON BULLDOGS (MONTREAL CANADIENS): The Crunch wrap up their regular season as they take on the defending Calder Cup Champion Hamilton Bulldogs on Sunday for the final meeting of the season. Syracuse is 6-1-0-0 against the Bulldogs this year and holds a 39-35-14 all-time record against them. Joakim Lindstrom has 11 points (3g, 8a) and leads all scorers in the season series. Adam Munro is 2-0-0-0 with a 0.83 goals against average and .964 save percentage against Hamilton.
UPCOMING PROMOTIONS:
CRUNCH ANNOUNCE DETAILS OF DICK’S SPORTING GOODS ‘BUY ONE, GET ONE FREE’ PROMOTION: The Syracuse Crunch announced today the details of the Dick’s Sporting Goods ‘Buy One, Get One Free’ Game on Sunday, April 13.
Anyone that purchases a ticket to the Crunch’s Sunday, April 13 (5 p.m. start time) game against the Hamilton Bulldogs will receive a ticket of equal or lesser value free to that night’s game, compliments of Dick’s Sporting Goods. (Discount not valid with any other offer).
PRACTICE SCHEDULE: The Crunch’s weekly schedule is as follows:
Tuesday, April 8 Game @ Lake Erie 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, April 9 TBD
Thursday, April 10 2:00 p.m. Practice @ Cicero Twin Rinks
Friday, April 11 10:30 a.m. Practice @ Cicero Twin Rinks.
Saturday, April 12 10:00 a.m. Skate @ War Memorial at Oncenter
Game vs. Binghamton 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 13 Game vs. Hamilton 5:00 p.m.
CRUNCHABLES: Since December 1, the Crunch’s record is 35-13-1-6...The Crunch are 19-10-2-6 in one goal games… Syracuse tied a franchise record with 10 goals against Rochester on Sunday…They scored 10 goals against the Amerks on November 5, 1994…The Crunch set a franchise record for goals in a period with six against Rochester on Sunday…Defenseman Andrei Plekhanov is currently riding a five-game point streak and has 9 points (6g, 3a) over that span…The Crunch now have 42 wins on the season which is the second most wins in franchise history for a single season… Syracuse is 13-0-0-1 in their last 14 home games and own the fifth best home winning percentage (.711) in the AHL…Matt Fornataro, Kevin Jarman and Mike Radja all recorded their first AHL points last week…Fornataro and Radja tallied their first professional points.