Syracuse, NY (November 23, 2007) - It was the beginning of a big weekend against the top teams of the division and the Syracuse Crunch already cleared the first hurdle with a 6-4 win over the Manitoba Moose Friday at the Onondaga County War Memorial.

 

Now it’s on to Toronto to complete the weekend divisional sweep.

 

Joakim Lindstrom’s second goal of the game with four minutes left in the third and Andrew Murray’s empty netter helped lift Syracuse to the win.

 

Jason Jaffray put Manitoba on top 2-0 in the first. He notched a hat trick to tie the game at 4-4 with just over 12 minutes left in the third.

 

3-Stars--No. 1, Lindstrom No. 2, Jaffray No. 3, Alexandre Picard

 

Streaking, I Think Not--The Syracuse win snapped a Manitoba five-game winning streak.

 

Turning Point--With the game tied at 4-4 Lindstrom was relentless as he banged at the loose puck at the corner of the Manitoba crease until it popped over the pad and behind Manitoba goalie Cory Schneider.

 

You’re A Pinball Wizard--Adam Pineault fired a shot from the right corner that hit Manitoba goalie Cory Scheider’s blocker deflected up into the air and came down just across the goal line at the 3:37 mark of the third, that gave Syracuse a 4-2 lead.

 

Hello Moto--Picard and Tom Sestito were back in the Crunch lineup. It was the first game for Picard since a devastating knee injury tearing his MCL and ACL against Rochester last season. Picard had the lone assist on two of Lindstrom’s goals. Sestito was back from a hand injury. Sestito hurt the hand in a fight against Chicago at the beginning of the month.

 

Welcome back, To that same old place that you laughed about--On the Manitoba bench Brad Moran made a return trip to the Syracuse barn. Moran still holds Syracuse records for most games played, most overall points, most assists, most shorthanded goals and is second in all-time power-play goals.

 

You were as cold as ice--Lindstrom hadn’t scored in seven games. That came to a quick end with a power-play goal midway through the second that tied the game at 2-2 and the game winner. On the game winner Lindstrom was relentless as he banged at the loose puck at the corner of the Manitoba crease until it popped over the line. The Crunch forward also added two helpers.

 

Your Willing To Sacrifice--Syracuse defenseman Dan Smith continues to be the king of blocked shots. Smith had another big block in the second period.

 

You Want Paradise--Two 5-on-3 power plays. Both were 1:33 in duration and Syracuse didn’t waste them, scoring on both.

 

Someday You’ll Pay The Price--Andrew Murray rattled the half-boards in the Manitoba end using the body of Manitoba’s Shaun Heshka.

 

They Said It--

 

"It’s a fine line between scoring and not scoring. I had my chances the last couple of games. I just needed to keep working the way I have been and finally I scored a couple tonight." Lindstrom on snapping his seven-game slump.

 

"He’s been out of the lineup for seven months. He brought a lot of energy tonight. He was excited to play and we were excited to have him back." Lindstrom on having Picard back in the Syracuse lineup.

 

"Sometimes you create your own mess. If you screw up one way you have to bail yourself out in another. I’m not going to score goals so I have to do what I can. On the blocked shot I was out of position and was fortunate that the guy pulled up and I was able to go down and make the stop but then on their first goal I was late going down and the shot went into our net off me. Sometimes when you go down you just hope it hits you." Syracuse defenseman Dan Smith on blocking shots.

 

"I was a little tired after my first couple of shifts but once I got my first shot and first shot on net, I got my confidence back and from there I just would go with the flow. It was exciting. It’s so different watching from the stands for the last 18 games. It was a good game and we didn’t get down (on ourselves) after the first two goals. Everyone went hard as a team. I told Lindstrom when we were on the power play just to shoot the puck because I’m going to be in front of the net (distracting the goalie) because that’s what I do." Picard on his first game back.

 

"He’s an agitator that has great speed and is a good player. He’s definitely a guy I’d like to have on my team but hate to play against." Manitoba’s Jason Jaffray on playing against Picard.

 

"My style of play is that I’m a shooter out there. I need to get into a zone. I need to get my shot off." Jaffray on his hat trick