Friday, the Crunch hosted the Cleveland Barons in the first AHL meeting between teams from those two cities since March of 1954. Backstopped by a solid effort by goaltender J. F. Labbe, the Crunch prevailed 4 to 1. The Crunch got on the board early as Kent MacDonell scored his third of the season just 41 seconds after the opening face-off. Good forechecking effort by Jonathan Schill and Brad Moran, both of whom picked up assists, lead to the goal. The Crunch were hit with two late penalties in the period when David Ling was called for tripping a Barons' defenseman who was already on the ice at the 19:36 mark followed by Moran picking up a 5-minute major for high sticking as the period ended. Although the Barons outshot the Crunch 14 to 8, the Crunch led after the 1st 1 to 0. There was no scoring in the second period, although the Barons made it clear their intention was to throw Labbe off his game by making contact with him while he was in his crease. Both Jonathan Cheechoo and Joel Prpic were given minors for goalie interference during the period. Cheechoo should have received two additional penalties during the period for the same infraction, a point that was noticed by Crunch LW Jeremy Reich, who went after Cheechoo late in the period only to be tied up with Barons' captain Steve Bancroft. Reich and Bancroft gave every indication they were going to drop the gloves after the ensuing face-off only to have referee Ian Walsh intervene and warn both players to save their efforts for later. The period ended with the Crunch still up 1 to 0, the Barons leading in shots on goal 24 to 21. The third period was much livelier as Crunch LW Jody Shelley and Cleveland D Matt Carkner dropped the gloves at the 2:46 mark. No heavy punches were landed, with Shelley coming back from losing his balance early in the scrap to get a decision as the players fell to the ice. Derrick Walser would get the Crunch's second goal at the 5:50 mark following a crisp pass from right to left from Reich. Ling picked up an assist on this goal. At 11:06, Blake Bellefeuille recorded his second goal of the season, on the power play, assisted by Dan Watson and Reich. Less than two minutes later, Preston Mizzi scored his first of the season, picking up the loose puck at the blue line and beating Barons' goalie Vesa Toskala to give the Crunch a 4-0 lead. At the 13:16 mark, Shelley engaged Cleveland RW Miroslav Zalesak in a shoving match at the Cleveland bench. Carkner jumped Shelley from behind and the players wrestled as they leaned over the Cleveland bench. An incensed Shelley bitterly complained to no avail to the officials about the Barons' players on the bench striking him on his face with their sticks, resulting in a small cut. Carkner was given a minor for instigating, 5 for fighting, and a 10-minute misconduct while Shelley served 2 for roughing and 5 for fighting. Labbe lost his shutout with just 41 seconds to go as Prpic scored his fourth of the season during a delayed penalty against the Crunch. Zalesaky picked up the lone assist. Cleveland outshot the Crunch 35 to 30. Darrel Scoville was selected defenseman of the game while Labbe, Bellefeuille, and Reich were selected first, second, and third stars of the game respectively. Review by KC