The Syracuse Crunch provided the opposition for last nights match up at Scope. Many of the players and coaching staff were on last seasons Calder Cup wining Norfolk Admirals.It was an awkward situation for many fans. You want to support your Admirals, but you also want to welcome back those familiar faces. I went an appropriate and traditional route. I clapped and cheered when the former Admirals took the ice for warm ups. When the Syracuse Crunch took the ice for the game I cheered for the Admirals. I learned early that you cheer for the crest on the jersey, not for the name on the back of the jersey. Now I am a Caps fan and I keep tabs on the Bears and the Caps prospects, but I am an Admirals fan and support the Admirals all season long. Last night it seemed like I was one of the few as it appeared that there were many more fair weather type fans that cheered on the Crunch as they shut out OUR Admirals and then skated to center ice and raise their sticks to salute the fans…..Admiral fans (hmmm.) Yes members of the Crunch were Admirals, but the past is the past. We won the cup, we had the nice streak, but its over and time to look into the future. Jay Rosehill put it into perspective… “”Those guys won here, and they’ve got some history, but this is our crowd, and this is our barn,the past is over. There’s going to be a clash, for sure, because they come in here like it’s going to be a reunion. We’re trying to establish that this is our place now.” Hopefully we can get the support of all the fans behind the ADMIRALS and get a win tonight. Our Admirals are the only team that should be raising their sticks on Scope ice.
Now for the game results….
Not much to talk about as far as scoring. The league leading Crunch brought their “A” game to town and it showed. Richard Panik opened up the scoring for the Crunch with a power play goal at 2:28 of the first period. Tyler Johnson scored on a slap shot at 14:50 of the first. Both teams went scoreless in the second to keep the game at 2-0 Crunch. Keith Aulie closed out the scoring at 17:04 to give the Crunch a 3-0 victory.
The Admirals offense was almost non-existent. Dustin Tokarski turned aside all 22 shots he faced. The Admirals are going to need to turn up the heat and put some shots on Tokarski. We know Tic is not a wall and we have witnessed many a melt down in net last year. The Admirals need to get the shots flying and apply the pressure. The wall will crumble.
We saw a very physical game last night. Tempers flared and fists were flying. The highlight of the night was Jay Rosehill’s dismantling of Eric Neilson. There was no skating in circles and posturing in this match. Rosehill flew into the fight and pounded Neilson. Neilson tried to keep up, but I give the fight clearly to Rosehill. Tonight will probably very physical as well, but lets hope our offense shows up as well.
LETS GO ADMIRALS!!
Syracuse Crunch 3 at Norfolk Admirals 0 – Status: Final
Friday, January 4, 2013 – Norfolk Scope
Syracuse 2 0 1 – 3
Norfolk 0 0 0 – 0
1st Period-1, Syracuse, Panik 16 2:28 (PP). 2, Syracuse, Johnson 20 14:50. Penalties-Conacher Syr (roughing), 2:08; Wagner Nor (roughing, roughing), 2:08; Holland Nor (interference), 3:22; Pelley Nor (boarding), 8:53; Conacher Syr (misconduct – continuing altercation), 16:33; Gudas Syr (fighting), 16:33; Neilson Syr (fighting), 16:33; Bodie Nor (fighting), 16:33; Clark Nor (misconduct – continuing altercation), 16:33; Rosehill Nor (fighting), 16:33; Palat Syr (high-sticking), 18:27.
2nd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Gudas Syr (misconduct), 6:15; Namestnikov Syr (fighting), 6:15; Neilson Syr (misconduct – continuing altercation), 6:15; Bodie Nor (misconduct – continuing altercation), 6:15; Hendry Nor (fighting), 6:15; Rosehill Nor (misconduct), 6:15; Panik Syr (diving), 7:58; Parent Nor (interference), 7:58; Connolly Syr (delay of game – faceoff violation), 10:29; Aulie Syr (interference), 18:26; Holland Nor (tripping, misconduct – abuse of officials), 19:33; Wyman Syr (high-sticking), 20:00.
3rd Period-3, Syracuse, Aulie 3 (Killorn), 17:04. Penalties-Korobov Syr (hooking), 2:35; Gudas Syr (charging), 14:29.
Shots on Goal-Syracuse 10-8-11-29. Norfolk 6-5-11-22.
Power Play Opportunities-Syracuse 1 / 3; Norfolk 0 / 6.
Goalies-Syracuse, Tokarski 14-5-3 (22 shots-22 saves). Norfolk, Andersen 7-8-0 (29 shots-26 saves).
A-6,285
Referees-Terry Koharski (10).
Linesmen-Luke Murray (92), Scott Pomento (25).
