Game Notes: 2/15/08 v. Binghamton Senators
Crunch KO B-Sens
Syracuse, NY (February 15, 2008) - It's all even-steven for the Syracuse Crunch as they brought their record to the .500 mark with a 4-1 win over the Binghamton Senators Friday at the Onondaga County War Memorial.
Syracuse, NY (February 15, 2008) - It's all even-steven for the Syracuse Crunch as they brought their record to the .500 mark with a 4-1 win over the Binghamton Senators Friday at the Onondaga County War Memorial.
Syracuse lit Binghamton's goal lamp twice in the second period and then it was lights out, literally, in the third.
Mark Methot scored both goals from the left point 47 seconds apart eight minutes into the second period. Both goals came off screens. Tom Sestito and Adam Pineault helped block Binghamton goalie Brian Elliot's vision on the first and Derek Dorsett skated in from the right corner boards and passed in front of Elliot just as Methot's second came blistering by Elliot.
In the third with 13:17 left to play the teams received an extra rest period when the high intensity lights shut down, leaving the the barn a bit dim. Once the lights came back on after a 20-minute break, Syracuse seemed the beneficiary of the delay, keeping the pressure on the Senators. Binghamton was forced to pull Elliot with less than two-minutes to play. Syracuse took advantage of the empty net with goals from Derek MacKenzie and Pineault.
Alexander Nikulin, robbed by Syracuse goalie Dan LaCosta on a brilliant glove save in the first period, made no mistake with 80 seconds left in the second on a soft shot from the bottom of the left circle.
3 Stars - No. 1, Methot, No. 2, LaCosta, No. 3, MacKenzie
Seven Times the Charm--The Syracuse Crunch evened its record to 25-25-2-3 with the win and finally got to the .500 mark. The Crunch have earned at least one point in the last five games.
They Said It -
"I couldn't ask for a better game than that. You can't forget though that Dan LaCosta played a heck of a game. They had close to 30 shots, so a lot of the credit has to go to him." Mark Methot on his game.
"Having guys in front of the net especially a high-low screen just back and forth it's unbelievable the goalie can't see the puck. Those guys deserve a lot of the credit also on both of them and when guys go to the net like that we're going to win games." Methot on players setting screens on his two goals.
"My role is to keep it simple and bang bodies around and bring energy to the team. I have to get to the net to be successful in this league. I have to get traffic in front of goalies so when the defense has the puck they can get them through. Methot made a great shot to the short corner." Derek Dorsett on his play.
"I hit him (Lee) a couple of times in the first couple of shifts. On a face-off he said to me 'running already' and I told him I'm going run you all night. I asked him if he wanted to go but he backed down. A little later I hit him again and he slashed me and then we went." Derek Dorsett on his fight with Brian Lee.
"I've played a couple of solid games here now and feeling a little more comfortable every game. I can't take credit for everything. Our defense and forwards did a really good job of allowing me to see the puck, especially in the first period when we took so many penalties. They blocked shots and made it easier on me." Dan LaCosta on his overall game.