Johnson's Late Goal Leads Crunch to Victory
Rookie Aaron Johnson had a goal and an assist and Pascal Leclaire recorded 27 saves in his first start of the season to lead the Syracuse Crunch to a 3-2 win over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Friday night at the War Memorial at Oncenter.
The Crunch didn't waste any time in this one as they would light the lamp just 2:48 into period number one. Brad Moran corralled a loose puck just inside the Wilkes-Barre blue line and displayed a nice burst to get into open space just before unleashing a quick wrist shot over the shoulder of Penguin netminder J.S. Aubin for an early 1-0 Syracuse lead.
A little over four minutes later the Penguins answered with their first tally of the evening. Ross Lupaschuk put a weak shot on the Syracuse net that was misplayed by Crunch goalie Pascal Leclaire. The former first round draft pick had the puck deflect off his stick right to Penguin forward Tomas Surovy who buried the present from Leclaire into the open side evening the score at one apiece.
The Crunch could only muster 2 shots on net in the first and also were forced to weather a five minute Penguin power play after Tim Jackman was whistled for a major high-sticking penalty at the 14:47 mark of the period. Syracuse's special teams did an excellent job on the penalty kill limiting the Penguins to only one shot on net during Jackman's five-minute stay in the penalty box.
In the second Syracuse's other specialty unit stepped up and gave the Crunch a one-goal lead for the second time in the game. While holding a 5 on 4 advantage, Todd Rohloff fired a nice low shot on net that was re-directed by Tim Jackman past Aubin for his first goal of the season and a 2-1 Crunch lead.
Just as they did in the first, Wilkes-Barre answered the Syracuse tally with a goal of their own thanks to some hard work from forward Eric Meloche. The Montreal native flicked a shot on Leclaire and then out-muscled Syracuse blueliner Anders Eriksson to control the rebound and put it past Leclaire to make it a 2-2 game.
In what proved to be a tightly contested third period, Syracuse's power play unit stepped to the forefront once again, kicking-off the most unusual circumstances surrounding a goal at the War Memorial in some time.
Aaron Johnson fired a shot on net from the slot that Penguin netminder Aubin got a piece of but could not control. The puck danced near the right goalpost and just trickled over the goal line before Aubin covered up in a pile of players. Referee Ryan Fraser, unsure of whether or not the puck crossed the line, conferred with goal judge Rob Wells before pointing to center ice signaling a goal.
Pascal Leclaire went the distance recording his first win of the season for the Crunch. Jean-Sebastien Aubin made 20 saves in taking the loss for Wilkes-Barre.
Crunch Ice Pack:
Date: October 17, 2003
Where:Onondaga War Memorial at Oncenter
Opponent:Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Attendance:4,223
Boxscore: First Period:Scoring-1. Syracuse, Moran 2 (Rohloff, Reich), 2:48. 2. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Surovy 3 (Lupaschuk, Sivek), 7:05. Penalties-Beech, WBS (holding the stick), 5:37; Scoville, Syr (hooking), 6:12; Sugden, Syr (high-stick), 9:10; Jackman, Syr (major-high-stick), 14:47.
Second Period:Scoring-3. Syracuse, Jackman 1 (Rohloff, Johnson), 5:45, (pp). 4. Wilkes-Barre, Meloche (Armstrong, Buckley), 12:17. Penalties-Lefebvre, WBS (double minor-roughing), 5:05; Knopp, Syr (roughing), 5:05; Sloan, Syr (holding), 7:19; Ouellet, WBS (high-stick), 16:00; Cull, Syr (hooking), 19:31.
Third Period:Scoring-5. Syracuse Johnson 2 (Motzko, Moran), 11:01, (pp). Penalties-Lefebrve, WBS (roughing), 7:31; Traynor, Syr (roughing), 7:31; Lupaschuk, WBS (holding), 9:10; Scoville, Syr (tripping), 12:13; Lefebrve, WBS (unsportsmanlike), 14:46; Reich, Syr (unsportsmanlike), 14:46; Scoville, Syr (interference), 15:05; Shots on Goal-Wilkes-Barre, 8-8-13--29; Syracuse, 2-11-10-23. Power Play Opportunities- Wilkes-Barre, 0 of 7; Syracuse, 2 of 4. Goalies-Wilkes-Barre, Aubin, 23 shots-20 saves; Syracuse, Leclaire 29 shots-27 saves. Referee- Ryan Fraser. Linesmen-Dan Murphy, Tim Kotyra.
Three Stars:
1. Brad Moran--Moran got the ball rolling with his second of the season early in the first and added an assist on Johnson's game-winner.
2. Todd Rohloff-Rohloff finished with two points on the night and was strong all game.
3. Eric Meloche-Scored the second of the night for the baby Pens to tie it late in the second period.
The Controversial Goal:
The Crunch were on the power play and putting consistent pressure on the Penguin net. Aaron Johnson puts a shot on net that Wilkes-Barre netminder J.S. Aubin gets a piece of but can't control. The puck squirts out and seems to dance along the goal line next to the goalpost as a number of Crunch players furiously try to poke the puck further into the net.
The red light goes on briefly, but Referee Ryan Fraser, the son of long-time NHL official Kerry Fraser, stands behind the net and never points. He then skates over to the corner and confers with his two linesmen before heading over to the goal judge, Robbie "Hawkeye" Wells.
They try and converse about the goal, but are having difficulty talking thru the glass so Wells leaves the goal judge box and heads to the scorer's table to talk freely with Fraser. Wells ends up talking to Fraser thru a crack in the glass in the visitor's penalty box. At this point around 2-3 minutes have elapsed. After speaking with Wells, Fraser turns around and points to center ice signaling a goal and a 3-2 Syracuse lead.
Quotes:
"It felt great. I was a little nervous the first period, but after I got playing a little bit I felt better. Got that one out of the way and it was a big win." -Brandon Sugden on how it felt just to play again.
"I looked at the game sheet before the game and they didn't have anybody dressed so that sort of takes that part of the game out, but I was still hitting everything that moved and if someone wanted to go I would have been there to answer the bell." -Sugden on how well behaved he was in his debut with the Crunch.
"Brad made a pass and I just tried to get my stick on it to put it toward the net and I think there was about five of us in front of the net trying to put it in." -Aaron Johnson on his controversial game-winning goal.
"I just saw it across the line. At the end there when they were blowing the whistle it was right across the line." -Johnson if he saw the puck go in.
"No, I heard them announce it about five times for the free bread or something and I think they changed the assist 8 times." -Johnson on if he ever had a goal take that long to be made official.
"Obviously it is more fun when you win. It is a good atmosphere in the room and everyone has a smile on their face." -Goaltender Pascal Leclaire on his first win of the season.
"I am happy, but obviously I can do better. I kind of juggled with the puck a little too much today and gave too many rebounds." -Leclaire on how he thought he performed in his first start.
"He said that the goal was in by about four inches or six inches which is consistent with what Rohloff and a couple of guys said when they came to the bench." -Head Coach Gary Agnew on the explanation given to him by Referee Ryan Fraser regarding Aaron Johnson's game-winning goal.
"I think that is an outstanding job by the referee. If you don't know, then ask the goal judge. That is what they are there for." -Agnew on if he has ever scene a situation like the one that occurred on Johnson's goal.
"I am thinking Pascal because I'm thinking that we should probably establish some sort of if you win you play. Now when it comes to three games in three nights and four and five there are some other things you have to slip in there to consider." -Agnew on who he may start in net Saturday against Rochester.
Lineups:
Penguins:Goal;Martin Brochu, Jean-Sabastien Aubin, Andy ChiodoDefense:Rob Scuderi, David Koci, Alexandre Rouleau, Darcy Robinson, Drew Fata, Ross Lupaschuk, Brendan Buckley, Patrick Boileau. Forwards: Michel Ouellet, Matt Hussey, Kris Beech, Guillaume Lefebvre, Shane Endicott, Toby Petersen, Colby Armstrong, Michal Sivek, Marquis Mathieu, Tomas Surovy, Tom Kostopoulos, Eric Meloche.
Crunch:Goal:Karl Goehring, Pascal Leclaire. Defense:Darrel Scoville, Todd Rohloff, Paul Traynor, Pauli Levokari, Aaron Johnson, Anders Eriksson, Trent Cull. Forwards:Mark Hartigan, Joe Motzko, Don MacLean, Jeremy Reich, Tim Jackman, Sean Pronger, Brad Moran, Tyler Sloan, Brandon Sugden, Mike Pandolfo.
Pre-game Skate:
Syracuse scratched Pauli Levorkari who is still nursing a knee injury that occurred during the October 1 preseason games against these same Penguins. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton scratched Martin Brochu, Darcy Robinson, Drew Fata and Matt Hussey.
Crunch One-Timers:
Prior to the game the Crunch announced that the Columbus Blue Jackets have recalled right wing Kent McDonell. He is expected to make his season debut with the Jackets on Saturday night when Columbus travels to Nashville to take on the Predators…..Former Blue Jacket Kevin Dineen, who is now in player development for Columbus and Blue Jacket Goaltending Coach Rick Wamsley watched last night's game from the press box….In the last installment of Crunch Rewind I commented on how the Crunch's tenth anniversary logo has eleven candles on it. I was informed that the extra one was for good luck. I stand corrected.
Parent Pulse :
Columbus continued their winning ways Thursday evening when they downed the Chicago Blackhawks 2-1 at Nationwide Arena moving their record to 3-1 on the season. It was the third straight win for the Jackets as they remained unbeaten at home this season. Winning isn't the only habit Columbus has picked up this season. Injuries are becoming pretty common place with the Jackets and that trend continued last evening when Andrew Cassels went down after being inadvertently kicked in the back by teammate David Vyborny. Cassels left the game with back spasms and joins Tyler Wright (sprained elbow/injured reserve), Duvie Westcott (bruised ankle) and Trevor Letowski (fractured finger/injured reserve) in an already over-crowded Columbus training room. All of this should leave no one surprised if the Jackets recall another body prior to Saturday's game.
On Deck:
The Rochester Americans come to town for the first of twelve meetings between the two rivals this season. Rochester sits atop the North Division with 5 points after downing the Toronto Roadrunners 1-0 Friday night. Ryan Miller, making his first start of the season for the Amerks, stopped 27 shots in picking up the shutout. Paul Gaustad scored the lone Rochester goal, a shorthanded tally at the 4:17 mark of the third period. Game time Saturday night is set for 7:30 PM.