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Crunch Get Huge Win in Grand Rapids
Syracuse, NY, (Saturday, December 8, 2007)
Grand Rapids, MI (December 8, 2007) – The Syracuse Crunch defeated the Grand Rapids Griffins tonight, 2-1 at Van Andel Arena in front of 9,262 fans. Syracuse is now 3-1-0-1 on the current road trip and 4-1-0-1 in their last 6 games.
The game started off with an edge when a pre-game scrum took place in warm-ups for the second time in four games. The physical battle carried over into the game when Tom Sestito dropped the gloves with Grand Rapids’ Aaron Keefe just two minutes in. Syracuse fed off the physical play and got on the board first at 12:26 when Andrew Murray broke through for his ninth tally of the season. Murray drove to the net, got a shot off, circled around the net, found a rebound and fired it past Griffins goaltender Jimmy Howard. The Crunch kept the momentum going when just seven seconds later, Jeffrey Szwez corralled the puck as he snuck behind the defense and beat Howard to the give the Crunch a 2-0 lead. Syracuse out-shot Grand Rapids 12-5 in the frame.
In terms of shots on goal, Grand Rapids dominated the second period by a 15-5 margin over the Crunch. Both teams had a good amount of power play opportunities, but neither could convert. The period ended with the Crunch still ahead by a deuce.
The Griffins again controlled the action in third period, out-shooting the Crunch 15-1. Grand Rapids would finally break through on Crunch starter Tomas Popperle at 16:44. With Alexandre Picard in the box for holding, Carl Corazzini slammed the puck home after an original shot hit the post and bounced in front of the net. Down the stretch it was all Grand Rapids as they dominated the play. The Griffins would pull Howard for the extra attacker, but to no avail. Syracuse held off Grand Rapids and pulled out the 2-1 win.
CRUNCHABLES: Adam Munro was scratched from the line-up tonight after suffering a groin injury last nigh; He is listed as day-to-day …The Crunch played their seventh game in nine nights tonight…Tonight was the fourth time in team history that the Crunch have been held to just one shot on goal in a period…With a win tonight, the Crunch moved into sole possession of third place in the North Division.