What a difference a year makes. Early in 2003 Syracuse's power play was clicking on all cylinders. Successful in 4 of their first 9 attempts, the Crunch recorded at least one goal with the man advantage in 7 of their first 10 games last season.
Flash forward to this season and it is quite a different story. After an 0-6 night in Saturday's loss to Binghamton, Syracuse is now 0-14 on the season and one of only fives clubs in the league who have failed to convert on the power play in 2004.
Crunch headman Gary Agnew attributes the early season power outage to just straying from the basics. "Too many guys don't want to shoot. You have to shoot to score," stated Agnew.
Agnew also mentioned a lack of game experience as a possible culprit. "It is just early season timing things," said Agnew. "We are passing when we should be shooting and shooting when we should be passing."
One area of possible concern is the lack of a legitimate quarterback on the power play. Gone are the likes of Derrick Walser and Darrel Scoville, forcing Agnew to find suitable replacements.
"I like Beauchemin and Johnson on the blueline," stated Agnew. "I also think Hartigan can do the job at times when he is on and I have no problem with Pushor and Lakos, the right-handed shot guys, getting out there."
Agnew also mentioned that no matter who is out on the ice, their goal is simple. "We just need to get the puck to the net."
After failing to find a partner's in Friday's home opener, Brandon Sugden headed to Binghamton Saturday evening itching to flex his new found muscles in the regular season. Consider that itch scratched.
Syracuse's sheriff kicked off 2004 with a couple of dominating bouts, solidifying his status as one of the AHL's toughest hombres.
Sugden's first bout was in the first period against longtime friend and Senator top cop Brian McGrattan. Playing the role of good host, McGrattan accepted Sugden's invitation in warm-ups, a decision he definitely regretted.
"We have known each other since we were kids and I kind of know how he fights," stated Sugden. "I know he likes to stand in there and throw to get me a little off balance so I timed it when he was throwing and I got lucky and hit him with a good shot."
Later in the game Sugden re-introduced himself to Senator defenseman Neil Komadoski after the rookie took offense to Sugden's check of teammate Jan Platil. The first time these two met in the preseason Sugden mercifully spared the overmatched Notre Dame product after connecting with some early bombs. This time Sugden wasn't as kind. Frustrated by a 4-1 deficit, an angry Sugden finished off Komadoski with a flurry of uppercuts and a little advice.
"I know he is from the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame," said Sugden. "But he has to give it a rest."
Years ago you could always catch a glimpse of some young fan leaving a game with a broken stick. These days those same kids would require heavy equipment to carry the plethora of broken sticks that result from just one game played.
Since the introduction of new technology, sticks are breaking at a record pace, a fact that has not escaped Crunch Head Coach Gary Agnew. "I don't know what is going on with the sticks right now," stated Agnew. "But it is a problem and we will have to look into that and see what happens."
--Four cities and five nights? No problem for the Manitoba Moose. Despite a brutal schedule to start the season, the well traveled Moose opened the season 3-1 after spoiling the home opener for three different clubs in week one.
Pacing the Moose was AHL Player of the Week Jason King. The former member of Vancouver's mattress line (two twins and a King) along with Daniel and Henrik Sedin, King recorded 9 points (7g,2a) in his first four games this season.
--On Monday the AHL's Board of Governors approved the increase in the size of playing rosters to 18 skaters and two goaltenders. Prior to the vote 17 was the limit and playing rosters will return to that number once the work stoppage ends in the NHL.
This ruling does not mean teams like the Crunch will be able to carry another player on their roster, they already have the right to do that. What it does is enable clubs to dress one extra player per game. That opens the door for players like Prestin Ryan, Raffaele Sannitz or Greg Mauldin to possibly see their first action of the season after being healthy scratches in each of Syracuse's first two contests.
--The Crunch head to St. John's this week for a pair of games against the baby Leafs. Thursday's game will be the home opener at Mile One Stadium with St. John's still looking for the first victory of the season after dropping their first three on the road. After being shutout by the Crunch, the Maple Leafs lost back-to-back games against Portland on Saturday and Sunday. That should make them a very motivated bunch come Thursday's game versus the Crunch.