Twenty-nine games into the 2003-04 campaign and it is still difficult to get a read on this year's version of the Syracuse Crunch. Undefeated in their first six games, the club has leveled off since and are currently winless in their last seven, yet over that stretch they still have played well enough to earn 6 of a possible 14 points.
So are they struggling right now? A quick look at the standings suggests yes, but that also can be deceiving. They currently reside in sixth place in the division with 30 points, but they also have games in hand on every team in their division.
Having those games in hand is always a nice crutch to rely on, but nothing is assured regarding those contests. They still have to win those games and lately that is easier said than done for this group.
Syracuse captain Darrel Scoville, when questioned on the current state of the club, seemed to straddle the fence somewhat on the issue. "We lost a few of those games you like to say you could have won and yeah we haven't won in a while," stated Scoville. "But we have tied a few which is not bad. I guess we are still struggling though because you have to win those games at home."
Scoville seemed to hedge even more when speaking of the situation regarding games played in the division. "We've got 7 games in hand on Hamilton and if we win five or six of those we're four points out of first place in second."
Struggling or not, optimism of pessimism, the fact is that they have not played well enough of late to garner that two points awarded for a victory. So as they prepare to embark on a stretch that has them playing four games in the next five days, what exactly can be done to remedy their current situation?
One obvious solution is better play out of the Syracuse power play. On 12/6 the Crunch went 2-7 with man-advantage against Toronto and they were clicking at a 20% success rate. Since then they have dropped to 16.67% after going 3 for their last 39.
A stretch like that would be detrimental for any club, but for a team that lacks offensive firepower like the Crunch, it can be devastating. "We have a tough enough time scoring goals as it is," stated Scoville. "We need to get one or two on the power play and we haven't been doing that and it has hurt us lately."
Considering the fact that Syracuse is currently 9-1-2 when scoring 3 goals or more, a couple of power play goals a game would definitely help. Unfortunately, that has only happened six times this season, four of which occurred in the first eleven games of the season, when Syracuse's power play was on fire.
Even strength the Crunch has averaged less than two goals a game their last seven contests. Combine those numbers with the man-advantage totals and it is easy to see why they are winless in seven. What then can be done to add some scoring to the Crunch?
It is common knowledge that Syracuse lacks a real sniper (what team in the AHL doesn't?), but they do have players who can find the back of the net. Mark Hartigan, Tim Jackman, Donald MacLean, Kent McDonell, and Brad Moran all can bury the biscuit and a look at their numbers over this recent winless streak suggest they are doing just that.
Hartigan has registered five points (1g,4a) and Jackman has recorded four (3g,1a). Donald MacLean also has recorded five points (2g,3a) and McDonell (2g,2a) and Moran (0g,6a) have also done their part.
So where does that leave things? Maybe secondary scorers like Jeremy Reich and Ben Knopp need to pick things up, but even players like that have supplied some punch. J.R. has registered a goal and an assist and Knopp has chipped in with two goals in one assist. Even the blueline seemingly has done their part with guys like Aaron Johnson (2g,2a) and Zenith Komarninski (1g,2a) aiding in the cause.
It just seems that like this past Sunday in Rochester, certain factors have conspired against the Crunch. Things just haven't lined up for this club and scoring is high on that list. "The games we score four, we give up five and the games we score two, we give up three," said Scoville. "It just seems to be going that way."
That fact leads one to believe that this is no time to panic. Granted, the Crunch are not right where they would like to be at this juncture, but it could be worse. There is still plenty of hockey to be played and those bad bounces and unlucky breaks tend to even themselves out in the long run.
Add to that the possible additions of Todd Rohloff and Anders Eriksson, along with possibly another forward, and the future could look bright for the Crunch. Just don't grab those sunglasses yet.
Practice was done and the Syracuse locker room was pretty much vacant. One player was all that remained and he was doing a little design work to his equipment. Goaltender Andrew Penner, the newest member of the Crunch, stood next to his stall peeling the only splash of color from his otherwise drab white facemask.
It was the logo of his former team, the Dayton Bombers, and Penner was peeling the sticker from the chin of the mask. When questioned if that meant anything regarding his length of stay, Penner quickly responded "no" and added that there are plenty back in Dayton.
Short stay or not, Penner is just glad to be in Syracuse and he plans on taking advantage of it. "Just being around this situation with guys working so hard in practice is absolutely beneficial," said Penner. "To experience shooters at the AHL level is nice and good for my game."
Penner's game seems to be improving on a daily basis. Like most goaltenders entering the professional ranks, Penner has struggled with the transition from juniors to playing for a paycheck.
"It has been interesting. A tough transition at first and actually I started off pretty slow," stated Penner. "As of recently I have started to figure out what works for me and what is making me successful at the pro level."
Penner's work ethic doesn't hurt either. Tuesday wasn't the first time he has found himself alone in the locker room after practice. "I am usually last out of the dressing room," claimed Penner. "I like staying out on the ice after practice doing all the little things that are going to help me get to the next level."
As for Pascal Leclaire, the person Penner was called on to replace, his trip to Columbus was not without its setbacks. According to the Columbus Dispatch, Leclaire arrived in the afternoon, but his equipment did not. Seems it failed to make a connecting flight out of Detroit.
So despite being in Columbus Leclaire was unable to dress and that forced Fred Brathwaite, the man Leclaire was supposed to replace, to suit up even though he probably could not have played.