.jpg)
.jpg)
Crunch Blank Norfolk for First Road Win
Syracuse, NY, (Saturday, October 31, 2009)
Norfolk, VA (October30, 2009) – Dan LaCosta made 32 saves to earn the shutout, Alexandre Picard tallied his team-leading fifth goal of the season and Pascal Pelletier added an empty-netter to lift the Crunch to their first road win of the season, a 2-0 victory over the Norfolk Admirals tonight in front of 2,706 fans at the Norfolk Scope.
The Crunch took control early and earned a 1-0 lead when Picard tipped a Mathieu Roy point shot on goal, sniffed out his own rebound and buried the puck past Norfolk starter Jaroslav Janus just 32 seconds into the contest.
Syracuse’s defense, helped by the addition of Roy after he was assigned by Columbus two days ago, kept the Admirals offense in check for most of the night despite being outshot by a 32-21 margin.
LaCosta was sharp when he had to be, highlighted by a great glove save and a diving stop across the crease in the game’s final minutes to keep the shutout in tact.
Pascal Pelletier added an empty-net goal with 33 seconds left in regulation after hard-working individual efforts by Dan Fritsche and Derek MacKenzie to get him the puck down the left side boards before he moved in for the easy score to put the game away.
MacKenzie had two assists on the night and is now tied with Picard and Pelletier for the club lead in points (9).
CRUNCHABLES: Roy appeared in his first game and notched his first point, an assist, as a member of the Crunch tonight…LaCosta’s shutout was the seventh of his AHL career and first since January 22, 2009 at Rochester, also the same amount of time since the Crunch as a team have registered a shutout…Pelletier’s goal was his first since October 10, a span of six games...The Crunch moved to 3-1-0-0 on Fridays…Syracuse won its first game tonight when scoring less than four goals…Tonight marked only the second time this season the Crunch have allowed less than three goals…The Crunch moved their record against East Division opponents to 4-2-0-1.
Photo Credit: John Wright