The routine is pretty much the same every game. Once the final horn sounds the two teams head off the ice. On good nights a few players from the Crunch congregate outside the Syracuse dressing room waiting to hear their name called as one of that evening's three stars.
That was the case this past Thursday, except fans that lingered on this night were treated to an extra appearance. Despite already peeling his jersey off Aaron Johnson just couldn't resist one more trek down the runway after hearing his name announced for some post game award.
After a quick wave to the remaining crowd Johnson hurried back to the dressing room, flashing his trademark smile to one of Syracuse's finest before disappearing into a raucous Crunch locker room. It was just some good innocent fun for Johnson and a welcome sight for Syracuse fans everywhere.
Heading into 2004 expectations were quite high for the second-year rearguard from Nova Scotia. Fresh off a very successful rookie campaign that saw him appear in 29 games for Columbus, Johnson looked to build on last year's promise with another breakout season.
Unfortunately for Johnson duplicating last year's success has become quite a task. Ever the risk taker, Johnson's riverboat gambler style of defense seemed to betray him more often than reward him and Johnson struggled for a good portion of the first half of the season.
That trend appears to be changing, especially of late, as more and more Johnson has resembled the player that Columbus envisioned as being a stalwart on their blueline for years to come. With points in four of his last six outings, Johnson himself has noticed the change in his play.
"I absolutely feel a difference. You think you are playing well and then once you step up your game and play like I have played lately that is when you realize you could have done better," stated Johnson. "And hopefully it can even get better here in the last 25 games or so."
One member of the Crunch who can sympathize with Johnson's plight is third year winger Tim Jackman. Like Johnson, Jackman was one of the names bandied about when speaking of players who may have wound up in Columbus had the NHL been able to solve their differences.
Prior to the midway point of 2004 that talk seemed like a distant memory. Jackman struggled to regain the form that saw him pot 23 goals along with 13 assists in 64 games with Syracuse last year.
"It has been tough for both Jacko and I," said Johnson. "We both have gone thru some hot and cold periods and hopefully we stay with this hot period right now."
Doing that may be easier said than done. Ask either player to pinpoint the reason they have battled with consistency and more often than not the answer is prefixed with a shrug of their shoulders.
"It is tough to say and you get frustrated," stated Jackman. "I was trying hard and sometimes I feel that I was trying so hard that I wasn't getting anything done and then some days I feel that I am not trying that hard and I get things done. It is just a tough game and right now I am getting a few bounces."
One thing that is certain is that both players intend to ride this current wave for as long as they can. As for Aaron Johnson, he also has aspirations for that smiling player who hit the runway in the name of good fun just moments earlier.
"Hopefully that Aaron Johnson stays around for a while." Amen to that.
Originally the plan called for Yuri Moscevsky to spend a couple days with the Crunch during their last sojourn through the Midwest. Four games, one goal and 14 penalty minutes later Moscevsky still dons a Crunch sweater.
Moscevsky has earned the extended stay with his strong play overall. Signed to add some much needed size and toughness to the Crunch lineup, Moscevsky has been remarkably efficient in filling that role and more. In four games with Syracuse Moscevsky is a +1 and he even netted his first goal as a member of the Crunch in his home debut last Thursday versus Manitoba.
Moscevsky was obviously pleased with his debut, especially when you consider the fact that right up until the Crunch's plane left Chicago, he was unsure of exactly where he stood with his new employers. Facing these uncertain circumstances, Moscevsky pulled a George Costanza type move and just showed up for the flight.
"At first it was supposed to be for the last two games," said Moscevsky referring to games versus Milwaukee and Chicago. "Then we were going to the airport and it was either go back to Long Beach or head to Syracuse. No one told me anything so I just showed up and fortunately they had a ticket for me."
With Brandon Sugden expected to miss a few more weeks, Moscevsky's stay might last even longer. Ironically it was Sugden who gave Moscevsky his seal of approval and politicked behind the scenes to get him in a Crunch uniform.
"That is always good. Especially when I am coming here to kind of fill his role that he can't do right now," said Moscevsky. "It is good to know that a guy in that position doesn't have a problem with me coming here or anything. I have a lot of respect for him."
Taking nothing away from their stifling defense that just added another player with NHL experience or their goaltending tandem that just might be the best in the American League. There is also no discounting their talented group of players that comprise their top six forwards. That being said the secret to Rochester's success this season may just lie with their dynamic third line.
The trio of Chris Thorburn, Paul Gaustad and Dan Paille are perfect compliments to the likes of Thomas Vanek, Derek Roy and Jason Pominville and they just plain work every time they take the ice. Not only are they a hard hat wearing bunch, this line can also put up some points having accumulated 34 goals and 41 assists so far this season along with being a combined +34.
In Sunday's win over the Crunch this line showed what they are all about in netting the second goal of the night for the Amerks. Their constant pressure and ability to dump and chase resulted in Chris Thorburn hopping on a loose puck and putting it past Goehring for a 2-0 Rochester lead.
Syracuse looks to see plenty of this threesome in the upcoming weeks as the Crunch are scheduled to play Rochester five more times in the regular season. The Amerks visit the War Memorial on March 12 and the very next night Syracuse pays another visit to Blue Cross Arena. On that evening Rochester may have the opportunity to break the AHL mark of 19 straight wins at home, providing they get by Edmonton once and Binghamton twice, prior to that date.