2006-07 RECORD: 24-30-2-7, 57 points (14-13-2-2 home, 10-17-0-5 road), fifth place, North Division

THIS WEEK'S GAMES

Tuesday, March 13 @ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (40-17-2- 4), 86 points, third place, East Division
Friday, March 16 vs. Hamilton (36-22-3-4), 79 points, second place, North Division
Saturday, March 17 vs. Houston (22-32-3-6), 53 points, seventh place, West Division
Sunday, March 18 @ Hamilton (@ Montreal) (36-22-3- 4), 79 points, second place, North Division

LAST WEEK’S RESULT

Friday, March 9 Crunch 7 ROCHESTER 4
Saturday, March 10 CRUNCH 5 Wilkes- Barre/Scranton 1
Sunday, March 11 ALBANY 5 Crunch 2
HOME TEAM IN CAPS

CALDWELL AND GLENCROSS HAVE STRONG WEEKEND: Defenseman Ryan Caldwell and left wing Curtis Glencross both made their return to the Crunch felt this past weekend with both players recording a point in each of the teams’ games three games. Caldwell posted two goals and one assist in the three games after missing the previous eight games with an injury. Glencross, just returned from Columbus on Thursday, posted three goals and three assists over the weekend.

NOVAK CONTINUES STREAK – LINDSTROM’S ENDS: After missing Saturday nights game with an injury defenseman Filip Novak picked up where he left off on Sunday night, extending his point streak to five games. During the streak Novak has seven points (2g, 5a). While Novak extended his streak on Sunday left wing Joakim Lindstrom had his five-game point streak come to a halt. Lindstrom had tallied 10 points (5g, 5a) in the five games prior to Sunday.

POPPERLE HITS GROOVE: Goaltender Tomas Popperle has seemed to find his comfort zone, posting victories in both games he appeared in net for the Crunch this past week. In his last six outings, Popperle has only dropped one decision, a 4-3 loss to Albany on March 2 at the War Memorial. During that time Popperle allowed 14 goals on 171 shots faced. The strong showing has improved Popperle’s record to 18-15-3.

NATIONWIDE INSURANCE COLUMBUS UPDATE: The Blue Jackets went 1-2-0-0 last week, beating Los Angeles 3-2 on Wednesday, March 7, then closing out the week with a 3-0 shutout loss to Dallas and a 2-1 loss to Nashville. Center Geoff Platt tallied his first NHL goal against Los Angeles.

THIS WEEK'S OPPONENTS:

WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON (PITTSBURGH PENGUINS): The Crunch travel to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to face the Penguins on Tuesday, March 13 for the seventh of eight regular season meetings between the clubs. Syracuse is 2-3- 0-1 against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton after defeating them 5-1 on March 10 at the War Memorial at Oncenter. Left wing Joakim Lindstrom (1g, 3a) leads all Crunch players in head- to-head scoring with four points. Centers Stephen Dixon (1g, 3a) and Rob Schremp (1g, 3a) lead all Penguins players in head-to-head scoring with four points. Goaltender Tomas Popperle has appeared in four games for Syracuse, posting a 2-1-1 record, a 2.46 goals against average and a .935 save percentage. Goaltender Jeff Drouin- Deslauriers has appeared twice times between the pipes, posting a 1-1-0 record, a 3.01 goals against average and a .905save percentage. Lifetime, the Crunch are 35-25-8 against the Penguins.

HAMILTON (MONTREAL CANADIENS): Syracuse hosts Hamilton on Friday, March 16 and travels to Montreal to play Hamilton on Sunday, March 18 for the sixth and seventh of eight regular season meetings between the clubs. The Crunch are 2-3-0-0 against the Bulldogs, after defeating Hamilton 5-2 on February 23 at Copps Coliseum. Center Corey Locke leads all players in head-to-head scoring with seven points (3g, 4a). Goaltender Tomas Popperle has appeared in three games for Syracuse posting a 1-2-0 record, a 3.70 goals against average and a .874 save percentage. Goaltender Yann Danis has appeared in two games for Hamilton, posting a 1-1-0 record, a 4.45 goals against average and a .868 save percentage. Lifetime, the Crunch are 31-24-12 against the Bulldogs.

HOUSTON (MINNESOTA WILD): On Saturday, March 17 Syracuse hosts Houston for the second and final of two regular season meetings between the teams. The Crunch won the only other meeting of the season, 4-1 at Toyota Center. Left wing Joakim Lindstrom (1g, 2a) leads all players in head-to-head scoring with three points. Several Houston players have one point each in head-to-head scoring. Goaltender Tomas Popperle has appeared in one game against Houston, recording 18 saves. Houston goaltender Josh Harding recording 25 saves in the loss. Lifetime, Syracuse is 2-3-0 against Houston.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS:

Crunch Players To Sign Autographs at Papa’s Sports: The Syracuse Crunch announced that Crunch players Dan LaCosta and Andrew Murray will be at Papa’s Sports on Wednesday, March 14.

LaCosta and Murray will be signing autographs on Wednesday, March 14 from 5 – 6 p.m. at Papa’s Sports located at 2083 Park St. in Syracuse. Please call 455- 7272 for directions.

March 15

Crunch Players to Sign Autographs at Verizon Wireless on March 15: The Syracuse Crunch announced that Crunch players Ryan Keller and Adam Pineault will be at Verizon Wireless in the Carousel Mall on March 15 from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. to sign autographs.

Keller and Pineault will be available on Thursday, March 15 from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. at the Verizon Wireless located in the Carousel Mall to sign autographs. Call 701-4701 for directions.

March 16

Dignity Funeral Homes ‘Escape School’ Program: The Syracuse Crunch announced the details of the Dignity Funeral Homes ‘Escape School’ program in Memorial Hall of the War Memorial at Oncenter. Prior to the Crunch games on March 16, March 30 and April 4, Dignity Memorial and the Crunch will team up to present the Dignity Memorial Escape School program. Any group that participates in the Dignity Funeral Homes ‘Escape School’ program will receive a complimentary ticket to the corresponding Crunch game, courtesy of Dignity Funeral Homes. Interested individuals and groups are asked to contact Sarah Scott at (315) 473-4444 or sscott@syracusecrunch.com for availability.

Dignity Memorial Escape School is an abduction prevention program sponsored nationally by the Dignity Memorial network of funeral, cremation and cemetery providers. This program empowers children and their parents by providing them with ways to recognize, avoid or escape potentially dangerous situations. Since its inception in 1996, Dignity Memorial Escape School had been presented to over 5 million families across the United Sates and Canada. Five children and one adult have credited this program with saving their lives.

Delivered free of charge by trained Dignity Memorial funeral care professionals, presentations are often requested by community organizations, church groups, scouts and schools. Offered in an entertaining and non- threatening manner, the program teaches children how to differentiate between the good and bad stranger, the common lures abductors use, how to get away, right away and how to find help when needed. In addition to teaching key concepts, presenters engage children in demonstrations featuring several simple yet highly effective techniques for escaping dangerous situations.

This program is sponsored locally by Pirro & Sons, Farone & Son and Bagozzi Twins. To learn more about the program, please contact Kristie Connolly at (315) 422-2417 or visit www.DignityMemorial.com.

PRACTICE SCHEDULE: The Crunch's weekly schedule is as follows:

Tuesday, March 13 10:00 a.m. skate at War Memorial at Oncenter
7:05 p.m. game @ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
Wednesday, March 14 10:30 a.m. practice at War Memorial at Oncenter
Thursday, March 15 10:30 a.m. practice at War Memorial at Oncenter
Friday, March 16 10:00 a.m. skate @ War Memorial at Oncenter
7:30 p.m. game vs. Hamilton
Saturday, March 17 10:00 a.m. skate @ War Memorial at Oncenter
7:30 p.m. game vs. Houston
Sunday, March 18 3:00 p.m. @ Hamilton (in Montreal)
*All practice times and locations subject to change

CRUNCHABLES: Syracuse had their three game win streak snapped on Sunday with a 5-2 loss to Albany… Right wing Ryan Keller recorded his first multiple point game in a Crunch uniform on Saturday against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (2a)… Defenseman Derrick Walser is on a six-game point steak (3g, 5a)… Friday was only the fifth time this season the Crunch have won when the opposing team has scored first (5-14-0-3)… The four goals in the second period of Friday night’s game against Rochester ties the Crunch’s season high.

Pictured: Ryan Caldwell, above; Tomas Popperle, previous page.