by
Jeff Parzych
Nate DiCasmirro's tallied twice, including the game-winner in overtime, to lead Toronto to a 7-6 win over the Syracuse Crunch Friday night in American Hockey League action. DiCasmirro's overtime tally foiled Syracuse's comeback bid after the Crunch scored three times in a span of 4:44 in the third period to force the extra session.
After recording only 15 shots total in a 5-2 win over Wilkes-Barre Wednesday night, the Roadrunners jumped out of the gates in this one with 16 shots in the first period alone, three of which found the back of the Syracuse net.
J.J. Hunter lit the lamp first just prior to the midway point of the opening period. He corralled the rebound of a Mikko Luoma shot and slipped a backhand past Pascal Leclaire for an early 1-0 Toronto lead.
Less than three minutes later the Roadrunners made it 2-0 with some nifty passing from Dan Baum and Brad Winchester. Baum ignited the play with a gorgeous drop pass at the blue line that sprung Winchester into the Crunch zone. After beating Syracuse defenseman Aaron Johnson to the outside, Winchester fired a nice cross-crease pass that Jamie Wright pounded into the open side for a two-goal Toronto advantage.
J.J. Hunter made it 3-0 Roadrunners after his short-handed tally at the 16:24 mark of the first. Hunter chipped the puck past Aaron Johnson who was attempting to keep the puck in the Crunch zone and outraced Jamie Pushor to break in alone on Leclaire. It was the second goal of the night for Hunter and the second straight game Syracuse has surrendered a short-handed goal.
The Crunch was able to cut the Toronto lead to two late in the first on a goal by defenseman Jamie Pushor. Don MacLean found Pushor streaking into the Toronto zone and his wrist shot beat Roadrunner netminder for his first of the year and a 3-1 game heading into period number two.
Chad Hinz and Joe Motzko exchanged goals early in the second period to make it a 4-2 game and then some undisciplined play from Syracuse broke things wide open for the Roadrunners.
Back-to-back power play goals for Toronto, each with Syracuse down two men courtesy of three minor penalties whistled against the Crunch in a span of 57 seconds, gave Toronto a seemingly insurmountable 6-2 lead with exactly seven minutes remaining in the second period.
Syracuse began to mount their comeback late in the second. Tyler Sloan fired a shot on net from a bad angle that somehow found its way past Michael Morrison to cut the Crunch's deficit to three.
After a slow start to the third period newcomer Scott Cameron made it a two-goal game by collecting a loose puck off a goal mouth scramble and slipping it past Morrison for his second goal in as many games with the Crunch.
Just over three minutes later, with momentum clearly in the Crunch's favor, Brad Moran chipped home the rebound of an Aaron Johnson drive to pull Syracuse within one with just over five minutes left in regulation.
Syracuse completed their comeback at the 16:04 mark of the third period. Again it was Scott Cameron, this time off a deflection of a Ben Knopp shot, for his second of the game and a 6-6 tie.
After many failed chances to win it in regulation, the Crunch headed to overtime looking to finish off the Roadrunners. Unfortunately Toronto had the last say on this night as Nate DiCasmirro tipped a J.J. Hunter shot past Pascal Leclaire for the win.
Crunch Ice Pack:
Date:January 16, 2004
Where:War Memorial at Oncenter
Opponent:Toronto Roadrunners
Attendance:5,439
Boxscore:
First PeriodScoring-1. Toronto, Hunter 3 (Luoma), 9:40. 2. Toronto, Wright 13 (Winchester, Baum), 12:02. 3. Toronto, Hunter 4 (unassisted), 16:24, (sh). 4. Syracuse, Pushor 1 (MacLean, Pandolfo), 19:19. Penalties-Henley, Tor (fighting), 5:30; Sugden, Syr (fighting), 5:30; Cull, Syr (slashing), 7:30; Hinz, Tor (high-stick), 14:48.
Second Period-Scoring-5. Toronto, Hinz 6 (DiCasmirro, Roche), 7:27. 6. Syracuse, Motzko 9 (Walser), 9:53, (pp). 7. Toronto, Rita 11 (Wright), 12:20, (pp). 8. Toronto, DiCasmirro 12 (Lynch, Luoma), 13:00, (pp). 9. Syracuse, Sloan 2 (Motzko), 13:56. Penalties-MacLean, Syr (obs. hooking), 1:52; Woywitka, Tor (high-stick), 8:37; Traynor, Syr (holding), 11:09; Walser, Syr (slashing), 12:06; Bench Minor, Syr (disputing officials decision)(served by Motzko), 12:06. DiCasmirro, Tor (roughing), 15:17.
Third Period-Scoring-10. Syracuse, Cameron 2 (unassisted), 11:20. 11. Syracuse, Moran 11 (Johnson), 14:37. 12. Syracuse, Cameron (Knopp, McDonell), 16:04. Penalties-Bench Minor, Syr (too many men)(served by Cameron), 8:31.
Overtime-Scoring-13. Toronto, DiCasmirro (Hunter, Woywitka), 2:09.
Shots on Goal-Toronto, 16-10-7-4--37; Syracuse, 9-10-14-0--33.
Power Play Opps.-Toronto, 2-6; Syracuse, 1-3.
Goalies-Toronto, Morrison (6-5-1), 33 shots-27 saves; Syracuse, Leclaire, (10-8-1), 37 shots-30 saves.
Referee-Harry Dumas(44); Linesmen-Angelo D'Amico (83), Tim Kotyra (53).
Three Stars:
1. Nate DiCasmirro: Tallied the game-winner in overtime. Finished the evening with two goals and an assist.
2. Scott Cameron: Continues to endear himself to the Crunch faithful with two more goals to give him three in two games played for Syracuse.
3. J.J. Hunter: Also registered a three-point night for the Roadrunners.
Lineups:
Roadrunners:Goal:Michael Morrison, Chris Madden, Stephen Valliquette.Defense:Rocky Thompson, Bobby Allen, Dan Smith, Doug Lynch, Jan Horacek, Brent Henley, Jeff Woywitka, Mikko Luoma, Mathieu Roy. Forwards:Tony Salmelainen, Chad Hinz, Brad Winchester, Nate DiCasmirro, Dan Baum, Peter Sarno, Jani Rita, Joe Cullen, Jamie Wright, JJ Hunter, Michael Henrich, Sean McAslan, Mike Bishai, Dave Roche.
Crunch:Goal:Pascal Leclaire, Karl Goehring.Defense: Darrel Scoville, Aaron Johnson, Zenith Komarniski, Paul Traynor, Pauli Levokari, Trent Cull, Jamie Pushor, Derrick Walser. Forwards:Ben Knopp, Joe Motzko, Donald MacLean, Jeremy Reich, Tim Jackman, Shawn Limpright, Brad Moran, Tyler Sloan, Brandon Sugden, Mike Pandolfo, Scott Cameron.
Pre-Game Skate:
Syracuse scratched defenseman Zenith Komarniski (ribs), defenseman Pauli Levokari (healthy), and Shawn Limpright (hip). Toronto sat goaltender Chris Madden, defenseman Bobby Allen, defenseman Jan Horacek, center Peter Sarno, right wing Sean McAslan and center Mike Bishai.
Another Crunch All-Star:
Aaron Johnson might not be the only member of the Crunch to participate in an all-star game this season. Earlier in the week Shawn Limpright was named as a replacement to the Eastern Conference All-Star team for the 2004 ECHL All-Star Game. The Manitoba native is taking the spot of former Express teammate Dan Carlson, who is currently on call-up with Lowell of the American League.
Limpright, who is currently out of the Crunch lineup with a hip-pointer injury, is expected to be allowed to leave Syracuse to participate in the festivities, that is if he is healthy enough to play. He skated for the first time on Friday and was still noticeably limping prior to the game that evening.
Former Crunch Players on the Move:
Many ex-Syracuse players were on the move this past week. Preston Mizzi was released from his P.T.O. with Bridgeport after appearing in two games with the Sound Tigers. Mizzi recorded one assist and was a +1 in those two games.
Two other players with a background with the Columbus organization still remain in Bridgeport. Kevin Colley, who appeared in 16 games with the Crunch last season, has apparently found a home in Bridgeport after bouncing between the AHL and the ECHL last season. In 38 games with the Sound Tigers he has registered 16 points and is a +4.
Cole Jarrett, Columbus' sixth pick, 141st overall in the 2001 Entry Draft is also skating with Bridgeport. He has appeared in 20 games, recording 5 assists. The Blue Jackets failed to offer Jarrett a contract after his junior career ended.
One other name from way back was recently signed to a P.T.O. by the Houston Aeros. Boris Protsenko, who appeared in 65 games with the Crunch in '98-'99, had been skating with Fresno of the ECHL where he recorded 15 points (6 goals, 9 assists) in 14 games with the Falcons.
Crunch One-Timers:
The seven goals allowed by the Crunch were the most given up by Syracuse this season…..With his goal in the second period Tyler Sloan now has points in each of his last three games…..Kent McDonell extended his point scoring streak to six games when he assisted on Scott Cameron's second goal in the third period…..J.J. Hunter's second goal in the first period on Friday was the seventh short-handed goal the Crunch have surrendered this season.
On Deck:
The Cleveland Barons come to town on Saturday for a divisional battle. Cleveland lost to Rochester 4-3 on Friday at the Blue Cross Arena and they currently trail the Crunch by one point in the North Division standings. Game time is set for 7:30 P.M.