The Crunch hosted the Penguins last night, in a rematch of a fight-filled
contest from Tuesday night. In a game attended by less than 3,000 fans, the
Crunch emerged with a 4-3 victory. Led by defenseman Duvie Westcott's two goals
and a helper, as well as good goaltending from Greg Gardner, who stopped 25 of
28 shots, the Crunch also won most of the 14 fights during the
game.
The action started early, as Crunch LW Paul Wingfield
and Pens D Derek Ernest dropped the mitts 40 seconds in, with Wingfield getting
the win. After that, Syracuse's Cory Morgan fought Pens Bruce Watson to a draw,
Shawn Legault showed why he has the title "Baddest man in minor hockey" by
drawing blood around the eye of WB/S RW Ken Tasker, Pens LW Blue Bennefield got
a decision over returning Crunch d-man Andrei Sryubko, Crunch RW David Oliver
then scored a decision over Ernest. At the 1457 mark, Tasker drew 17 minutes
for instigating a rematch with Legault. This was a poor decision for Tasker,
who ended up with cuts around both eyes as well as a cut to his mouth area.
Westcott scored his first on the ensuing power play, beating Pens goalie Mark
Scally, with C Preston Mizzi getting the assist. Wingfield then lost a close
decision to Pens D Dan Kopec. The Crunch closed out the first period with a 1-0
lead, outshooting the Pens 14-6.
Second period action started at the 2:12 mark,
with Pens C Brendan Walsh getting a clear victory over Syracuse's Jonathan
Schill. Walsh's post fight actions drew the ire of the Crunch bench, although
Walsh refused several invitation during the rest of the game to "dance".
Bennefield then speared Mizzi, picking up a double minor to go with the fighting
majors each player received. At 9:02, the Pens tied the game on a goal from
Casey Harris, with Ernest getting the helper. At 10:58, Westcott scored his
second, from Morgan and crowd favorite Jeremy Reich. Reich and Pens D
Jean-Phillipe dropped the mitts during the celebration, both players earning 10
minute misconducts. Gardner sparkled in goal this period, stopping consecutive
scoring chances by Colin Chaulk and Lucas Miller during a breakdown while the
Crunch were on the power play. At 12:27, Chaulk picked up a double minor for
spearing. This led to a goal by Legault, with an assist to Westcott off an
outstanding pass at the blueline. At 18:11, Tasker scored from Miller, cutting
the Crunch lead to 3-2. Wingfield then picked up his third fighting major and
automatic game misconduct for a free swinging bout with Watson. Chaulk tied the
game at the 1939 mark. Sryubko and Bennefield dropped the gloves and fought in
the Crunch crease at the 1952 mark, but referee Bob Langdon assessed only minors
and misconducts to the players. The period ended tied at 3, with the Crunch
holding a 25-23 shot advantage.
In the third, Tasker challenged Legault for a third
bout, but the Crunch tough guy was intercepted by Watson before he could get to
Tasker. Credit Watson with a close decision. Defenseman Mike Vellinga scored
at the 611 mark, with assists to Mizzi and Reich. Ernest then challenged Oliver
at 6:23. Oliver did not want to fight, but after several taunts from Ernest,
went at him. This would prove to be the most brutal, one-sided fight of the
game. Oliver used Ernest as a speed bag, leaving the Pens defenseman in a
bloody heap on the ice. The game was delayed for clean-up after this one.
Vellinga and Harris then had a quick bout, with Reich
and D Eric Lind getting the urge to throw punches at the 9:33 mark. Reich got
the clear victory, catching Lind by surprise by switching hands a couple of
times during the bout. At 10:05, Chris Wells drew the ire of the Crunch faithful
by running Gardner while the Crunch goalie was in the crease. Crunch Captain
Dan Watson stepped in, but did not draw any extra penalties to let the Crunch
have another power play. The Crunch would then get an extra five minutes as
Chaulk drew his second big sticking foul, catching Sryubko with a high stick.
Andrei would not return, and I have no update on his condition. The game ended
with the Crunch winning 4-3, out shooting the Pens 32-28.
The Crunch looked good, considering that few of the
players in uniform will start the season with the club. Wearing the Columbus
away jerseys was a bit confusing, as numbers were not even close to last
year's. If the team continues to play this physical, the War Memorial will be
filled with fans, as Syracuse is an "aggressive" style of play town. Regardless
of what happens "on the hill", the fans will come if the players give honest,
hard working efforts each night.
Next game in Saturday vs Hamilton, a team that beat
the Crunch in the first pre-season game, which featured nine bouts, three by
Crunch LW Trevor Ettinger. Ettinger did not play Thursday against the Pens
after getting three more fighting majors Tuesday night. Ettinger and Legault
look to get plenty of ice time as last year's Crunch enforcer, Jody Shelley,
looks to have played himself into a spot with Columbus. GREAT JOB, Jody.
Oliver and Wingfield should also get long looks within the organization for this
role, with Elmira and Dayton looking for players also.
The current Crunch host the former Crunch Sunday as
the Manitoba Moose come to town. Manitoba was formerly in the IHL, and are the
new farm team of the Vancouver Canucks. Several former Crunch players:
Kavanaugh, Ready, Michaud, "Z-man"and Kariya are in the Moose line-up, with
former Crunch star Josh Holden getting picked up in Friday's Waiver Draft by the
Hurricanes.
Let's support the team this weekend.