Andy Delmore and Mark Hartigan each recorded a goal and two assists to lead the Syracuse Crunch to a 5-3 win over the Springfield Falcons in American Hockey League action Saturday night
The Crunch opened the scoring just past the three minute mark of the first period on a power play goal from Mark Hartigan. Camped at the top of the Springfield crease, Hartigan tipped an Andy Delmore drive from the blueline past Falcon netminder Brian Eklund to give Syracuse an early lead.
By notching an assist on the play Delmore extends his point streak to 15 games and breaks the franchise mark for most consecutive games with a point. The previous mark was held by Lonny Bohonos, who recorded points in 14 straight during the 1996 campaign.
Less then two minutes later the Falcons evened things up on a goal from Ray Schultz. Ryan Vesce won a draw back to Schultz waiting at the blueline and the veteran defenseman one-timed a shot that beat a screened Andrew Penner for his fist goal as a Falcon.
Syracuse recaptured the lead later in the first on their second power play of the period. Once again Andy Delmore was in the thick of things, this time feeding Joe Motzko for a drive from the left wing face-off circle. Brian Eklund stopped Motzko’s drive momentarily, but could not keep the puck from finding the back of the net to put the Crunch up 2-1.
Mark Hartigan also was credited with a helper on the goal, his second point of the period, to extend his assist streak to nine games. That breaks the previous franchise mark of assists in eight straight set by current Ottawa Senator forward Peter Schaefer back during the 1997 season.
The Crunch extended their lead just over a minute later on a goal from rookie Geoff Platt. Platt took a Joakim Lindstrom feed and beat Eklund low, short side for his first goal since returning from Columbus back on January 6.
After a scoreless second period the Crunch made it a 4-1 game on their third power play goal of the night. After drawing assists on Syracuse’s first two power play markers, Andy Delmore notched his first goal of the night on a drive from the high slot.
Two straight Falcons goals in the third brought Springfield to within one, but Alexander Picard’s empty-net tally at the 18:51 mark sealed the deal for the Crunch.
Andrew Penner recorded 29 saves to improve to 10-6-1 on the season. Brian Eklund registered 25 saves for the Falcons, who are now winless in their last 13 games.
Crunch Ice Pack :
Date:Saturday, January 14, 2006
Where:War Memorial at Oncenter
Opponent:Springfield Falcons
Attendance:5,989
Boxscore:
First Period-Scoring-1. Syracuse, Hartigan 16 (Delmore, Sarno), 3:18, (pp). 2. Springfield, Schultz 2 (Vesce), 5:04. 3. Syracuse, Motzko 9 (Delmore, Hartigan), 11:28, (pp). 4. Syracuse, Platt 16 (Lindstrom, Pushor), 12:41. Penalties-Jaspers, Spr (hooking), 1:39; Packard, Spr (slashing), 5:57; Fritz, Spr (fighting), 8:51; Sugden, Syr (fighting), 8:51; Schultz, Spr (interference), 9:29; Rosehill, Spr (fighting), 14:13; Simon, Syr (fighting), 14:13; Pushor, Syr (game-misconduct), 14:13; Motzko, Syr (holding), 17:10; Hebling, Spr (hooking), 18:55.
Second Period-Scoring-Penalties-Methot, Syr (cross-checking), 5:14; Packard, Spr (cross-checking), 5:19; MacMillan, Syr (interference), 6:30; Rosehill, Spr (major, game misconduct)(checking from behind), 16:24; Tollefsen, Syr (roughing), 16:24; Platt, Syr (slashing), 18:41; Sarno, Syr (gross misconduct), 18:41; Dicaire, Spr (hooking), 19:24.
Third Period-Scoring-5. Syracuse, Delmore 2 (Hartigan, Motzko), :36, (pp). 6. Springfield, Tarnasky 4 (Campbell, Pratt), 3:17. 7. Springfield, Helbling 1 (Schultz, Jaspers), 10:53. 8. Syracuse, Picard 4 (Motzko, MacMillan), 18:51, (en). Penalties-Jaspers, Spr (goalie interference), 11:49; Schultz, Spr (roughing), 15:14; Devaux, Spr (ten minute misconduct), 15:14; Tarnasky, Spr (ten minute misconduct), 15:14; Johnson, Syr (ten minute misconduct), 15:14; Simon, Syr (ten minute misconduct), 15:14; Motzko, Syr (roughing), 15:14; Tollefsen, Syr (holding), 15:50; Schultz, Spr (roughing), 20:00.
Shots on Goal-Springfield, 10-14-8---32; Syracuse, 14-8-8---30.
Power Play Opportunities-Springfield, 0-4; Syracuse, 3-8.
Goalies-Springfield, Eklund, (3-10-1), 29 shots-25 saves; Syracuse, Penner, (10-6-1), 32 shots-29 saves.
Referee-Brian Pochmara (43); Linesmen-Dan Murphy (21), John Murphy (71).
Three Stars:
1. Andy Delmore: Where are all the people who complained when Delmore was acquired? Delmore may not only be the MVP of the Crunch, he may be the most valuable player in the AHL.
2. Mark Hartigan: I f Delmore is Syracuse’s MVP, Harty is not far behind.
3. Ray Schultz: Schultz grabs third star despite throwing cheap shot at Tyler Kolarik as final buzzer sounded.
Lineups:
Falcons: Goal:Brian Eklund, Gerald Coleman. Defense: John Adams, Jay Rosehill, Ray Schultz, Doug O’Brien, Todd Rohloff, Harlan Pratt, Timo Helbling. Forwards:Zbynek Hrdel, Jason Jaspers, Ryan Vesce, Jim Campbell, Marek Kvapil, David Spina, Steve McLaren, Chris Dingman, Nick Tarnasky, Mitch Fritz, Darren Reid, Randy Rowe, Dennis Packard, Andre Deveaux.
Crunch: Goal:Andrew Penner, Martin Prusek Defense: Marc Methot, Jeff MacMillan, Jamie Pushor, Andy Canzanello, Ole-Kristian Tollefsen, Aaron Johnson, Andy Delmore. Forwards:Ben Simon, Tyler Kolarik, Darcy Verot, Andrew Murray, Peter Sarno, Brandon Sugden, Joakim Lindstrom, Greg Mauldin, Brett Nowak, Joe Motzko, Geoff Platt, Mark Hartigan, Alexandre Picard.
Pre-Game Skate:
Scratched for the Crunch was center Brett Nowak (groin) and left wings Greg Mauldin (knee) and Darcy Verot (veteran rule). The Falcons didn’t dress defensemen John Adams and Todd Rohloff, right wing Darren Reid and left wings Randy Rowe and Steve McLaren.
Crunch One-Timers:
Greg Mauldin missed Saturday’s game after tweaking a knee. With Mauldin out the Crunch dressed seven defenseman, but one of those seven was Ole-Kristian Tollefsen, who is recovering from a knee injury. Tollefsen, however was forced into action when Jamie Pushor was tossed in the first period for coming to the aid of Ben Simon……..Peter Sarno was issued a gross misconduct in the second period Saturday for allegedly using a racial slur in an altercation with Falcon winger Andre Deveaux, who is French Canadian. Reportedly no one, besides Deveaux heard Sarno. Everyone knows in the heat of things anything can happen, but that is totally out of character for Sarno, who denies the allegation……..Springfield defender Jay Rosehill was also tossed out of Saturday’s tilt for checking Alexandre Picard from behind. It was a scary moment for the Crunch and Picard, who recently returned from a long layoff after suffering from a concussion. Picard left the ice, but returned in good health to start the third period.
On Deck:
The Crunch return to action on Monday when they play host to the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins in a special matinee game set for 2:00 P.M. There will be no live radio broadcast Monday, 620 WHEN will be airing the game tape delayed, but you can still listen via the internet on www.syracusecrunch.com. It also can be streamed live on the internet courtesy of the B2 Network.