by
Jeff Parzych
Like they say, "that is why they play the games." Heading into Friday's tilt between Rochester and Syracuse many expected a low scoring game. After all both clubs seem to have taken to scoring goals the way most kids take to broccoli. Add to the mix the match-up between Ryan Miller and Pascal Leclaire and a 0-0 tie was not out of the realms.
Fortunately for the 5, 951 fans in attendance the unexpected happened. Syracuse put four pucks past the highly touted Miller and added one more into an empty net to hang on and down the Amerks 5-3. It was the second highest goal scoring output of the year for the Crunch and the first time all season, excluding a game against the Islanders while playing in Buffalo that Ryan Miller has given up more than two goals.
Syracuse opened the scoring in this one just as the first period was coming to a close. Jamie Pushor, in his first game with Syracuse, ignited the play with a nice pass off the boards to Mike Pandolfo, who sent a pass to Tim Jackman at the top of the Amerk crease. Jackman was quickly taken down but not before slipping the puck thru the legs of Miller to give the Crunch a 1-0 lead heading into the second period.
In the second Syracuse added to their lead on a nice power play goal from rookie Joe Motzko. At first it didn't look like the Crunch would get anywhere with the man-advantage as they struggled to gain the zone and left Head Coach Gary Agnew shaking his head in disgust.
That is when Motzko stepped in. He picked up a loose puck near the left wing face-off circle, skated in and fired a wrister on net that beat Miller to his stick side. It was the third of the year for Motzko, with assists going to Aaron Johnson and Mark Hartigan.
The Crunch added to their lead early in the third period on a rare mistake from all-world goaltender Ryan Miller. The former Michigan St. star whiffed with his glove on a lazy Brad Moran wrist shot to give Syracuse a three-goal cushion.
Rochester mounted their comeback less a minute later. Norm Milley put the Amerks on the board when his shot to Leclaire's right deflected off a defenseman's stick and found the top corner to cut Syracuse's lead to 3-1.
With the Crunch reeling somewhat Ben Knopp picked the most opportune time to end his scoreless drought. His quick one-timer beat Miller again to the stick side and gave Syracuse some much needed breathing room.
As it turned out they needed every inch of that breathing room as back-to back power play goals from the two Jason's, Pominville and Botterill, brought Rochester to within one with 1:21 left in regulation.
Rochester had a few opportunities to tie it late in the contest, but could not put the equalizer past Leclaire and Joe Motzko sealed the deal with an empty-netter for his second goal of the game.
Leclaire finished the night with 36 saves, upping his season mark to 6-3-0. Miller registered 24 saves in the loss and falls to 5-4-3 on the year.
Crunch Ice Pack:
Date: Friday, November 21, 2003
Where:Onondaga County War Memorial at Oncenter
Opponent:Rochester Americans
Attendance:5,951
Boxscore:
First Period-Scoring-1. Syracuse Jackman 4 (Pandolfo, Pushor), 19:47. Penalties-Hartigan, Syr (roughing), 2:04; Jorde, Roc (tripping), 9:34; Jorde, Roc (major-fighting), 14:17; Sugden, Syr (major-fighting), 14:17.
Second Period-Scoring-2. Syracuse Motzko 3 (Johnson, Hartigan), 13:42, (pp). Penalties-Levokari, Syr (unsportsmanlike, roughing), 2:09; Lingren, Roc (roughing, fighting), 12:01; Reich, Syr (fighting), 12:01.
Third Period-Scoring-3. Syracuse Moran 6 (unassisted), 1:10. 4. Rochester Milley 3 (Bartovic, Jorde), 1:58; 5. Syracuse Knopp 1 (Hartigan, Jorde), 5:41. 6. Rochester Pominville 8 (Janik, Cullen), 10:43, (pp). 7. Rochester Botterill 1 (Cullen, Pittis), 18:39. 8. Syracuse Motzko 4 (MacLean, Reich), 19:58, (en). Penalties-Pittis, Roc (roughing), 9:36; Botterill, Roc (fighting), 9:36; Scoville, Syr (roughing), 9:36; Reich, Syr (fighting), 9:36; Traynor, Syr (roughing), 9:36; Gaustad, Roc (unsportsmanlike), 11:06; Scoville, Syr (unsportsmanlike), 11:06; Roy, Roc (unsportsmanlike), 15:08; Motzko, Syr (tripping), 18:12.
Shots on Goal-Rochester, 14-15-10--39; Syracuse,9-9-11--29.
Power Play Opps.-Rochester, 2 of 5; Syracuse, 1 of 3.
Goalies-Miller (5-4-3), 28 shots-24 saves; Syracuse, Leclaire (6-3-0), 39 shots-36 saves.
Referee-Dave Hansen (47); Linesman-Mike Emanatian (69), B.J. Ringrose (10).
Three Stars:
1. Pascal Leclaire: Talk about redundant. Leclaire, with his 36 save performance, takes home the number one star for the fourth time in the last five games.
2. Joe Motzko: On a team struggling to find the back of the net, Motzko's four goals on the season are a god send.
3. Jeremy Reich: JR picked up an assist on Motzko's second of the night and also decisioned two Amerks in two separate bouts.
Quotes:
"It is chances like those. I think the last three of four games I have had quality chances and guys always say if you are not getting chance then you have to start worrying." -Crunch forward Ben Knopp on being stoned on the doorstep by Miller in the second period.
"I'm just happy to get the first one out of the way. That one is definitely the toughest." -Knopp on his third period tally, his first of the season.
"I like to find the hole and playing with Hartigan and Nedorost those guys will find you as long as you get open." -Knopp on his one-timer from the slot.
"Being a lefty like he is he can probably catch a lot of guys like that. He throws pretty good. I give him credit he stood in there pretty good." -Brandon Sugden on his bout with Ryan Jorde and how he just started throwing punches.
"No he is not, but I love those kinds of fights." -Sugden responding to being asked if Jorde is a technical fighter.
Lineups:
Rochester:Goal: Ryan Miller, Tom Askey. Defense:Scott Ricci, Doug Janik, Rick Mrozik, Ryan Jorde, Steve Lingren, Brian Chapman, Nathan Paetsch, David Cullen. Forwards:Milan Bartovic, Geoff Peters, Paul Gaustad, Jason Pominville, Karel Mosovsky, Jason Botterill, Norm Milley, Derek Roy, Pete Gardner, Jiri Novotny, Michael Ryan, Domenic Pittis.
Crunch:Goal: Pascal Leclaire, Karl Goehring. Defense: Jamie Pushor, Darrel Scoville, Zenith Komarniski, Paul Traynor, Pauli Levorkari, Aaron Johnson, Trent Cull. Forwards: Mark Hartigan, Ben Knopp, Donald MacLean, Riley Cote, Jeremy Reich, Tim Jackman, Joe Motzko, Brad Moran, Tyler Sloan, Brandon Sugden, Andrej Nedorost, Mike Pandolfo.
Pre-Game Skate:
Scratches for the Crunch were Riley Cote (healthy) and Trent Cull (foot). Rochester scratched Rick Mrozik (healthy), Geoff Peters (healthy) and Jiri Novotny (concussion).
Crunch One-Timers:
Joe Motzko and Riley Cote were both sporting new numbers for last night's game. Motzko is now wearing number 19 and Cote switched to 11……Paul Traynor returned to action last night after missing the last 7 games with a foot injury…..Pascal Leclaire held the Amerks scoreless on the War Memorial ice for just under 102 minutes dating back to Syracuse's 2-0 win back on 10/18……The win snaps the Crunch's three-game losing streak…..Rock Newman was in town and spent time in the victorious Crunch locker room after the game.
Parent Pulse:
A couple of ex-Crunch blueliners played a big role in Columbus's 3-0 shutout of Detroit Thursday evening. Anders Eriksson assisted on Dan Fritsche's third period goal, along with Kent McDonell, and logged over 14 minutes of ice time. Todd Rohloff was also solid as he saw over twenty minutes of ice time.
Speaking of McDonell, he has very quietly found a nice niche with the Jackets so far this season. While former Crunch captain David Ling struggles to find his way out of the press box, the steady McDonell has appeared in 15 games this season and is averaging 11:31 minutes of ice time. He has recorded 1 goal and 1 assist along with 32 penalty minutes.
On Friday the Blue Jackets claimed former New York Ranger first round selection Manny Malhortra of waivers from the Dallas Stars. Malhortra, the seventh overall selection in the 1998 Entry Draft, appeared in 9 games with Dallas this season recording 4 penalty minutes. In 2002-03 he registered 10 points (3g, 7a), 42 penalty minutes in 59 games with the Stars. On Deck:
On Saturday the Cleveland Barons visit the War Memorial for the first time this season. Last night the Barons blew a three-goal lead in Toronto and had to settle for a 4-4 tie. Game time is set for 7:30 PM.