The Syracuse Crunch penalty-kill units allowed five goals on 12 chances Saturday, Jan. 21, at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza as the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins overwhelmed the visitors 6-2 in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
Thinks got sicker on Sunday afternoon, Jan. 22, after the Penguins faced off against the Crunch here at the Onondaga County War Memorial. The PK blew both of its two chances. But bad went to worse when the Crunch power-play units allowed two more Scranton scores even while Syracuse enjoyed a man-advantage with a Penguin in the penalty box. The Crunch lost 4-3.
After Sunday’s debacle, new Crunch associate head coach Trent Yawney pledged to address both problems.
“We’re not going to take [so] many penalties,” Yawney said, and he’ll address the sloppy special teams’ play in practice.
Crunch forwards Patrick Maroon and Luca Caputi each scored Saturday in Wilkes-Barre. On Sunday at home, defenseman Bryan Rodney netted one and American Hockey League All-Star winger Kyle Palmieri scored two to raise his season goal total to 23 goals in 24 games.
Home games Friday, Saturday, Sunday
The Crunch continues its 2011-12 AHL season with three home games this weekend.
Syracuse hosts Thruway rivals the Rochester Americans at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27, at the Onondaga County War Memorial at State and Harrison streets, downtown. At the same time Saturday night, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers stalk Syracuse here, and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins skate in for a 3 p.m. face-off on Sunday, Jan. 29.
The Crunch is affiliated with the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks, while Bridgeport is top farm club of the New York Islanders, and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton squad is the AHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Ticket prices for home games range from $14 to $21; 473-4444.
