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Game Notes: 12/21/07 v. Albany River Rats
Crunch Roll Over Rats
Syracuse, N.Y. (December 21, 2007)--Adam Pineault scored a shorthanded goal in the third period that filled the Syracuse Crunch stocking with Christmas joy in a 3-1 win over the Albany River Rats Friday at the Onondaga County War Memorial.
Zenon Konopka put Syracuse on the board early in the second period when he tipped home a shot by Pineault. Albany tied the game 10 minutes later on a power play goal by Dave Gove, but Andrew Murray stuffed home the game-winner two minutes later on a pass from Konopka.
Syracuse, N.Y. (December 21, 2007)--Adam Pineault scored a shorthanded goal in the third period that filled the Syracuse Crunch stocking with Christmas joy in a 3-1 win over the Albany River Rats Friday at the Onondaga County War Memorial.
Zenon Konopka put Syracuse on the board early in the second period when he tipped home a shot by Pineault. Albany tied the game 10 minutes later on a power play goal by Dave Gove, but Andrew Murray stuffed home the game-winner two minutes later on a pass from Konopka.
Pineault broke out of the Syracuse zone with Derek MacKenzie before the third period was four minutes old and blasted MacKenzie's pass by Albany goalie Michael Leighton. Leighton finished with 27 saves.
Karl Goehring earned his second win since returning to the Crunch. He made 26 saves.
3 Stars--No. 1 Konopka, No. 2 Murray, No. 3 Pineault
The Main Event--Syracuse heavyweight Jon Mirasty battled Albany's Joel Rechlicz in the second period.
He was Naughty--Gove snapping Goehring's shutout bid.
He was Nice--Pineault adding a shorthanded insurance goal.
All I want for Christmas is a NHL gig--Crunch broadcaster Bob McElligot is going to the show. Bobby Mac will broadcast Sunday's Columbus Blue Jackets game at Nationwide Arena against the Nashville Predators. He will return in time to enjoy the holiday with his family and the home and home with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins next week.
They said it--
"Albany is a good club that's going to come to work. They're a fast bunch of guys. We played well enough to win and found a way to win which was nice to see after the Toronto collapse. We had the same lead tonight but did a better job of executing. Anytime you can learn from your mistakes is a huge stepping stone for us. I think we're going in the right direction."
Syracuse Captain Zenon Konopka on the win.
Syracuse Captain Zenon Konopka on the win.
"We are aggressive on the penalty kill and don't give them time and space. That's a lot of our success. were all on the same page." Andrew Murray on the penalty kill unit that allowed one goal in seven Albany opportunities.
"It all started with Z (Konopka) going hard to the net. I don't think the goalie knew where the puck was but I just came around and threw a shot at the net and it popped into the corner."
Murray on the game-winner
"We didn't want to repeat what happened in Toronto the other night so we went out and played hard and it turned into a good victory."
Adam Pineault predictably when asked on what they wanted for Christmas most of the players asked had the same answer, make the playoffs and win the Calder Cup.
Adam Pineault predictably when asked on what they wanted for Christmas most of the players asked had the same answer, make the playoffs and win the Calder Cup.
Happy Holidays!!!!!!