2013–14 Syracuse Crunch season

2013–14 Syracuse Crunch
Division 5th East Division
Conference 12th Eastern Conference
2013–14 record 31-32–4–9 (75 pts)
Home record 17–12–2–7
Road record 14–20–2–2
Goals for 198
Goals against 232
Team information
General Manager Julien BriseBois
Coach Rob Zettler
Assistant Coach Trent Cull
Captain Mike Angelidis
Alternate captains Joey Mormina
Jean-Philippe Cote
Vladislav Namestnikov
Arena Oncenter War Memorial Arena
Average attendance 211,815
Team leaders
Goals Brett Connolly (31)
Assists Jonathan Marchessault (33)*
Points Brett Connolly (57)
Penalties in minutes Luke Witkowski (204)
Plus/minus (+) Cedric Paquette (+8)
(–) Geoff Walker (–14)
Wins Kristers Gudlevskis (13)
Goals against average Kristers Gudlevskis (2.68)
< 2012–13 2014–15 >

The 2013–14 Syracuse Crunch season is the franchise's 20th season in the American Hockey League, which began on October 5, 2013. It marked Rob Zettler's first full season as head coach.

Off-season

Head coach Rob Zettler will start his first full season Syracuse as head coach in 2013–14, having replaced Jon Cooper after Cooper became head coach of Tampa Bay Lightning.[1][2] Trent Cull replaced Marty Raymond as assistant coach, a job Cull held under former Syracuse coach Ross Yates from 2006 to 2010. Tampa Bay Assistant General Manager Julien BriseBois said Cull was chosen from about 100 applicants.[3] David Alexander was hired as Syracuse's new goaltender coach, his first full-time coaching position with a professional hockey team.[4]

Following Syracuse's Eastern Conference-winning season last year, several players were called up to Tampa Bay Lightning, including Mark Barberio, Radko Gudas, Tyler Johnson, Ondrej Palat and Richard Panik.[5] The team saw several other departures during the off-season, including Brendan Mikkelson,[6] Jared Nightingale,[7] Evan Oberg,[8] Dan Sexton,[9] and J. T. Wyman,[10] The Crunch also signed several new players, including veterans Joey Mormina, Geoff Walker and Evan Rankin,[1] but mostly younger AHL rookie players like forwards Carl Nielsen,[11] Maxime Langelier-Parent and Drew Olson;[12] and defensemen Nikita Nesterov, Artem Sergeev and Luke Witkowski.[13] The team re-signed Mike Angelidis,[14] Mark Barberio,[15] and J. T. Brown.[16] Jean-Philippe Cote and Mormina were named the new alternate captains, while Angelidis remained captain for the second consecutive year.[17]

The Crunch played in a three-game Mary Brown Cup's rematch against St. John's IceCaps, who they defeated in a three-game sweep during the previous year's pre-season.[18] Syracuse won the first game 5–2 on September 26, scoring three unanswered, unassisted goals in the third period; Cedric Paquette had a two-goal game.[19] The Crunch then clinched the series with a 1–0 shutout victory on September 28, with goaltender Riku Helenius stopping 27 shots.[20] The IceCaps won 3–2 in the third and final game on September 29, ending a five-game pre-season losing streak against the Crunch. Paquette tied the game in the third period with his third goal of the preseason, this one on the power play, but St. John's scored the game-winner 27 seconds later.[21] Syracuse began the regular season with Cote and Matt Taormina out of play due to unspecified ailments.[13]

2013–14 Preseason Game Log: 2–1–0–0 (Home: 1–1–0–0; Road: 1–0–0–0)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Record
1 September 26 Syracuse 5–2 St. John's Desjardins 1–0–0–0
2 September 28 St. John's 0–1 Syracuse Helenius 2–0–0–0
3 September 29 Syracuse 2–3 St. John's Desjardins 2–1–0–0

Regular season

October

Matt Taormina went on a seven-game point streak for the Crunch in October.

Syracuse lost three of their first four games of the regular season.[22] Starting their season on the road for the eighth consecutive year,[23] the Crunch lost 4–3 to the Binghamton Senators in overtime on October 5. Despite a 3–1 lead going into the third period, the team's young defense made several mistakes, including a turnover by Nesterov that allowed a short-handed breakaway Binghamton goal.[24] Taormina and Vladislav Namestnikov would each next go on a seven- and nine-game point streak, respectively,[25][26] starting with the October 12 home opener against the Rochester Americans. The Crunch won 5–1 after scoring four power play goals and outshooting their opponent 37 to 18. Nikita Kucherov got a hat-trick, scoring two of the three on the power play, marking the rookie's first professional goals.[27]

The Crunch lost to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins the next day 6–3, despite going into the final period with a 2–1 lead, marking the second time they lost despite leading in the third.[28] In what Zettler later described as a lack of discipline, Syracuse allowed six penalties in the final period, allowing the Penguins to score five goals, including two in the power play.[29] After its first three games, Syracuse had a penalty kill of 72.2 percent success rate, the third-lowest in the league.[30] Syracuse split a home-and-home weekend series against Binghamton on October 18 and 19,[22][31] starting with a 6–2 loss despite out-shooting their opponent 42–20. The Senators scored five consecutive goals, including three in less than six minutes.[22] The Crunch won their next five games,[32] despite goaltender Helenius suffering an upper body injury on October 19 that will leave him sidelined for at least two weeks.[33]

Kucherov began a seven-game point streak on October 18.[34] Syracuse had their season's first shootout victory on October 25 in their first ever match-up against the Utica Comets.[35] The Crunch defeated the Bridgeport Sound Tigers 5–0 the next day. Kristers Gudlevskis, a rookie goaltender recalled from the ECHL's Florida Everblades to replace Helenius, made 22 saves in his AHL debut.[36] The top line of Kucherov, Namestnikov and Brown scored four goals and five assists in Syracuse's 4–1 win over the Albany Devils on October 30.[25] Kucherov was subsequently named AHL Rookie of the Month for October, finishing the month with eight goals and seven assists, placing him second in the league for scoring.[37] The Crunch generally dominated during the second period of October games, outshooting their opponents 15-6 in that frame.[38]

November

Syracuse started the month with a 5–4 victory over Rochester in a shootout after coming back from a three-goal deficit to tie the game. Kucherov and Paquette each scored in the shootout, and Kucherov recorded two goals and two assists, marking his second straight four-point game.[32] Defenseman Charles Landry was recalled from the ECHL the next day to replace the recently injured Taormina and Cote.[39] The Crunch's winning streak ended with a 4–2 loss against Binghamton on November 2. Kucherov scored another goal, bringing him to first in the league in scoring with 11 goals and nine assists.[34] The line of Kucherov, Namestnikov and Brown had recorded 19 of the team's 27 goals in the first 10 games of the season, prompting Zettler to express concern with a lack of scoring for the rest of the roster.[40]

Standings

Divisional standings

    		 East Division[41] GP W L OTL SOL Pts GF GA
    1 Binghamton Senators (OTT) 39 24 12 0 3 51 145 122
    2 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (PIT) 39 23 12 1 3 50 115 97
    3 Norfolk Admirals (ANA) 39 20 13 1 5 46 111 107
    4 Syracuse Crunch (TB) 37 17 14 2 4 40 100 114
    5 Hershey Bears (WSH) 37 17 14 3 3 40 121 110

    After games of January 18, 2014

    Conference standings

      		 Eastern Conference[42] Div GP W L OTL SOL Pts GF GA
      1 *y– Manchester Monarchs (LAK) AT 76 48 19 3 6 105 244 188
      2 *y– Springfield Falcons (CBJ) NE 76 47 23 1 5 100 247 212
      3 *y– Binghamton Senators (OTT) ET 76 44 24 3 5 96 276 232
      4 x– St. John's IceCaps (WPG) AT 76 46 23 2 5 99 258 207
      5 x– Albany Devils (NJD) NE 76 40 23 5 8 93 220 193
      6 x– Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (PIT) ET 76 42 26 3 5 92 206 185
      7 x– Providence Bruins (BOS) AT 76 40 25 2 9 91 233 210
      8 x– Norfolk Admirals (ANA) ET 76 40 26 3 7 90 201 192
      9 e– Hershey Bears (WSH) ET 76 39 27 5 5 88 221 213
      10 e– Hartford Wolf Pack (NYR) NE 76 37 32 1 6 81 202 220
      11 e– Worcester Sharks (SJS) AT 76 36 34 4 2 78 189 226
      12 e– Syracuse Crunch (TBL) ET 76 31 32 4 9 75 198 232
      13 e– Adirondack Phantoms (PHI) NE 76 30 38 2 6 68 182 225
      14 e– Bridgeport Sound Tigers (NYI) NE 76 28 40 2 6 64 183 238
      15 e– Portland Pirates (PHX) AT 76 24 39 3 10 61 222 284

      * = Division leaders are seeded 1, 2, and 3 in Conference standings.
      The top eight teams in each conference qualify for the playoffs.
       y–  indicates team has clinched division and a playoff spot
       x–  indicates team has clinched a playoff spot
       e–  indicates team has been eliminated from playoff contention

      Schedule and results

      2013–14 Game Log – Regular season
      November: 1–1–0–0 (Home: 1–0–0–0 ; Road: 0–1–0–0)
      # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Gamesheet
      9 November 1 Rochester 4–5 Syracuse SO Gudlevskis 4,972 6–2–1–0 13 Gamesheet
      10 November 2 Syracuse 2–4 Binghamton Desjardins 3,382 6–3–1–0 13 Gamesheet
      11 November 6 Syracuse WB/SCranton
      12 November 8 Syracuse Norfolk
      13 November 9 Syracuse Norfolk
      14 November 15 WB/Scranton Syracuse
      15 November 16 Albany Syracuse
      16 November 22* Syracuse Hamilton
      17 November 23 Hamilton Syracuse
      18 November 27 Syracuse Binghamtom
      19 November 29 St. John's Syracuse
      20 November 30 Syracuse Adirondack
      * Game to be played at the Bell Centre in Montreal

      Legend:       Win (2 points)       Loss (0 points)       Overtime/shootout loss (1-point)

      Player statistics

      Skaters

      Note: GP = Games Played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/− = Plus/Minus; PIM = Penalty Minutes
      Updated as of November 3, 2013[43]

      Regular Season
      Player GP G A Pts +/- PIM
      Kucherov, NikitaNikita Kucherov* 10 11 9 20 0 6
      Namestnikov, VladislavVladislav Namestnikov 10 5 10 15 −1 0
      Taormina, MattMatt Taormina 8 2 8 10 −2 2
      Brown, J. T.J. T. Brown 10 3 5 8 2 17
      Nesterov, NikitaNikita Nesterov* 10 1 5 6 −1 6
      Rankin, EvanEvan Rankin 10 3 2 5 1 6
      Korobov, DmitryDmitry Korobov 10 0 5 5 5 11
      Paquette, CedricCedric Paquette* 10 3 1 4 2 16
      Sergeev, ArtemArtem Sergeev* 9 2 1 3 −2 11
      Tyrell, DanaDana Tyrell 10 2 1 3 −2 4
      Cote, Jean-PhilippeJean-Philippe Cote 6 1 1 2 0 9
      Richard, TannerTanner Richard* 10 0 2 2 4 32
      Witkowski, LukeLuke Witkowski* 10 0 2 2 4 27
      Connolly, BrettBrett Connolly‡ 6 0 1 1 2 6
      Angelidis, MikeMike Angelidis 10 0 1 1 −1 13
      Mormina, JoeyJoey Mormina 10 0 1 1 −1 14
      Walker, GeoffGeoff Walker 10 0 1 1 −2 21
      Gauthier, DanickDanick Gauthier 1 0 0 0 0 0
      Landry, CharlesCharles Landry‡ 2 0 0 0 −1 0
      Neilson, EricEric Neilson 2 0 0 0 0 5
      Olson, DrewDrew Olson* 6 0 0 0 −3 2
      Paradis, PhilippePhilippe Paradis 10 0 0 0 −2 20

      †Denotes player spent time with another team before joining team. Stats reflect time with the team only.
      ‡Left the team mid-season
      *Rookie

      Goaltenders

      Note: GP = Games Played; TOI = Time on Ice; W = Wins; L = Losses; GA = Goals Against; GAA = Goals Against Average; SV = Saves; SA = Shots Against; SV% = Save Percentage; SO = Shutouts; G = Goals; A = Assists; PIM = Penalty Minutes
      Updated as of November 3, 2013[44]

      Regular Season
      Player GP TOI W L GA GAA SV SA SV% SO G A PIM
      Gudlevskis, KristersKristers Gudlevskis 2 124:43 2 0 4 1.92 51 55 .927 0 0 0 0
      Helenius, RikuRiku Helenius 3 178:48 2 1 7 2.35 65 72 .903 0 0 0 0
      Desjardins, CedrickCedrick Desjardins 5 304:25 2 3 16 3.15 125 141 .887 0 0 0 0
      Totals 607:56 6 4 27 2.66 241 268 .899 0 0 0 0

      ‡Left the team mid-season
      *Rookie

      Awards and records

      Awards

      Player Award Awarded
      Nikita Kucherov AHL Rookie of the Month October 2013[37]
      Nikita Kucherov AHL Player of the Week November 3, 2013[45]

      Milestones

      Player Milestone Reached
      Cedric Paquette 1st AHL Regular Season Game October 5, 2013[46]
      Nikita Kucherov 1st AHL Game
      1st AHL Goal
      1st AHL Assist       		October 12, 2013[27]
      Artem Sergeev 1st AHL Goal October 12, 2013[27]
      Nikita Nesterov 1st AHL Game
      1st AHL Assist       		October 12, 2013[27]
      Cedric Paquette 1st AHL Goal October 13, 2013[29]
      Jean-Philippe Cote 100th AHL Point October 26, 2013[38]
      Eric Neilson 700th AHL Penalty Minute October 26, 2013[38]
      Kristers Gudlevskis 1st AHL Game
      1st AHL Win
      1st AHL Shutout       		October 26, 2013[36]
      Luke Witkowski 1st AHL Assist October 26, 2013[36]
      Nikita Nesterov 1st AHL Goal November 1, 2013[47]
      Cedric Paquette 1st AHL Assist November 2, 2013[48]
      Artem Sergeev 1st AHL Assist November 2, 2013[48]

      References

      1. 1 2 Kramer, Lindsay (September 10, 2013). "Syracuse Crunch in position to keep the good times rolling in 2013-14". The Post-Standard. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
      2. ↑ Kramer, Lindsay (August 27, 2013). "Syracuse Crunch coach Rob Zettler eager to open class for the 2013-14 season". The Post-Standard. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
      3. ↑ Kramer, Lindsay (July 3, 2013). "Trent Cull returns to Syracuse Crunch as assistant coach". The Post-Standard. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
      4. ↑ Kramer, Lindsay (July 25, 2013). "New Syracuse Crunch goalie coach David Alexander wants to get better along with his prospects". The Post-Standard. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
      5. ↑ Kramer, Lindsay (October 1, 2013). "Former Syracuse Crunch players among many making leap from AHL to NHL". The Post-Standard. Archived from the original on October 7, 2013. Retrieved October 7, 2013.
      6. ↑ Kramer, Lindsay (July 19, 2013). "Ex-Syracuse Crunch defenseman Brendan Mikkelson inks a deal with Pittsburgh". The Post-Standard. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
      7. ↑ Kramer, Lindsay (July 22, 2013). "Ex-Syracuse Crunch defenseman Nightingale finds new employment in Rockford". The Post-Standard. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
      8. ↑ "Wolves sign defenseman Oberg". Daily Herald. August 19, 2013. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
      9. ↑ Kramer, Lindsay (July 5, 2013). "Former Syracuse Crunch forward Dan Sexton puts career in holding pattern with deal in Finland". The Post-Standard. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
      10. ↑ Dater, Adrian (July 5, 2013). "Colorado Avalanche sign Nick Holden, Nate Guenin, Guillaume Desbiens, J.T. Wyman, David Van der Gulik, Colin Smith". The Denver Post. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
      11. ↑ Kramer, Lindsay (August 9, 2013). "Syracuse Crunch adds forward Carl Nielsen on an AHL pact". The Post-Standard. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
      12. ↑ Kramer, Lindsay (October 4, 2013). "Syracuse Crunch inks forwards Drew Olson and Maxime Langelier-Parent to AHL deals". The Post-Standard. Archived from the original on October 7, 2013. Retrieved October 7, 2013.
      13. 1 2 Kramer, Lindsay (October 3, 2013). "Syracuse Crunch's young defensemen need to step into roles and move up the ice". The Post-Standard. Archived from the original on October 7, 2013. Retrieved October 7, 2013.
      14. ↑ Kramer, Lindsay (June 27, 2013). "New deal returns Syracuse Crunch captain Mike Angelidis to the Tampa Bay organization". The Post-Standard. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
      15. ↑ Kramer, Lindsay (July 16, 2013). "Syracuse Crunch defenseman Mark Barberio signs new deal with Tampa Bay". The Post-Standard. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
      16. ↑ Kramer, Lindsay (July 15, 2013). "New deal locks up Syracuse Crunch forward J.T. Brown for another season". The Post-Standard. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
      17. ↑ Kramer, Lindsay (October 4, 2013). "J.P. Cote and Joey Mormina named as alternates for the Syracuse Crunch". The Post-Standard. Archived from the original on October 7, 2013. Retrieved October 7, 2013.
      18. ↑ Kramer, Lindsay (August 15, 2013). "Syracuse Crunch will defend preseason tournament title in St. John's". The Post-Standard. Archived from the original on October 7, 2013. Retrieved October 7, 2013.
      19. ↑ McCarthy, Brendan (September 26, 2013). "IceCaps a little too generous to visitors in preseason opener". The Telegram. Archived from the original on October 7, 2013. Retrieved October 7, 2013.
      20. ↑ "IceCaps blanked by Crunch". CBC News. September 29, 2013. Archived from the original on October 7, 2013. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
      21. ↑ Kramer, Lindsay (September 29, 2013). "St. John's edges Syracuse Crunch 3-2 in final game of Mary Brown Cup tournament". The Post-Standard. Archived from the original on October 7, 2013. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
      22. 1 2 3 Kramer, Lindsay (October 18, 2013). "Binghamton's second-period counterpunch enough to KO the Syracuse Crunch, 6-2". The Post-Standard. Archived from the original on October 20, 2013. Retrieved October 20, 2013.
      23. ↑ Kramer, Lindsay (August 22, 2013). "Crunch releases 2013-14 schedule". The Post-Standard. Archived from the original on October 7, 2013. Retrieved October 7, 2013.
      24. ↑ Kramer, Lindsay (October 5, 2013). "Ceci's overtime goal boosts Binghamton Senators over Syracuse Crunch, 4-3". The Post-Standard. Archived from the original on October 7, 2013. Retrieved October 7, 2013.
      25. 1 2 Kramer, Lindsay (October 30, 2013). "Syracuse Crunch's stars shine again in 4-1 win over Albany (video)". The Post-Standard. Archived from the original on November 5, 2013. Retrieved November 5, 2013.
      26. ↑ "Crunch fall to Binghamton Senators". WSYR-TV. November 3, 2013. Archived from the original on November 5, 2013. Retrieved November 5, 2013.
      27. 1 2 3 4 Kramer, Lindsay (October 12, 2013). "Nikita Kucherov's hat trick carries Syracuse Crunch to a 5-1 rout of Rochester in home opener". The Post-Standard. Archived from the original on October 14, 2013. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
      28. ↑ Kramer, Lindsay (October 14, 2013). "Late slip-ups are preventing the Syracuse Crunch from closing out wins". The Post-Standard. Archived from the original on October 14, 2013. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
      29. 1 2 Houghtaling, Jeremy. "WBS Penguins score five times in third period to down Syracuse Crunch, 6-3". the Citizen. Archived from the original on October 14, 2013. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
      30. ↑ Kramer, Lindsay (October 18, 2013). "Syracuse Crunch offense needs a jump-start from the opening faceoff". The Post-Standard. Archived from the original on October 20, 2013. Retrieved October 20, 2013.
      31. ↑ Weinstein, Matt (October 19, 2013). "Binghamton Senators suffer third-period letdown". Press & Sun-Bulletin. Archived from the original on October 20, 2013. Retrieved October 20, 2013.
      32. 1 2 Houghtaling, Jeremy (November 1, 2013). "Kucherov, Syracuse Crunch rally past Rochester Americans in shootout, 5-4". the Citizen. Archived from the original on November 5, 2013. Retrieved November 5, 2013.
      33. ↑ Kramer, Lindsay (October 24, 2013). "Injury will keep Syracuse Crunch goalie Riku Helenius sidelined at least two weeks". The Post-Standard. Archived from the original on October 28, 2013. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
      34. 1 2 Kramer, Lindsay (November 2, 2013). "Binghamton Senators' second-period burst enough to get past the Syracuse Crunch, 4-2". The Post-Standard. Archived from the original on November 6, 2013. Retrieved November 6, 2013.
      35. ↑ Pitarresi, John (October 25, 2013). "Ericksson Shines as Comets earn first point in shootout loss". Observer-Dispatch. Archived from the original on October 28, 2013. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
      36. 1 2 3 Kramer, Lindsay (October 26, 2013). "Second-period run pushes Syracuse Crunch to 5-0 rout of Bridgeport Sound Tigers (video)". The Post-Standard. Archived from the original on October 28, 2013. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
      37. 1 2 "Monthly award winners for October named". American Hockey League. November 1, 2013. Archived from the original on November 5, 2013. Retrieved November 5, 2013.
      38. 1 2 3 Kramer, Lindsay (October 30, 2013). "Cedrick Desjardins in net tonight for Syracuse Crunch; Eric Neilson out with injury". The Post-Standard. Archived from the original on November 3, 2013. Retrieved November 3, 2013.
      39. ↑ Kramer, Lindsay (November 2, 2013). "Syracuse Crunch recalls defenseman Charles Landry from the ECHL". The Post-Standard. Archived from the original on November 5, 2013. Retrieved November 5, 2013.
      40. ↑ Kramer, Lindsay (November 4, 2013). "Syracuse Crunch's top line doing too much heavy lifting on the scoresheet". The Post-Standard. Archived from the original on November 5, 2013. Retrieved November 5, 2013.
      41. ↑ "2013–14 Regular Season – Division". American Hockey League. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
      42. ↑ "2013–14 Regular Season – Conference". American Hockey League. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
      43. ↑ "Skaters – 2012–2013 Regular Season – Syracuse Crunch". American Hockey League. Retrieved November 3, 2013.
      44. ↑ "Goalies – 2013–14 Regular Season – Syracuse Crunch". American Hockey League. Retrieved November 3, 2013.
      45. ↑ "Kucherov garners Player of the Week honor". American Hockey League. November 4, 2013. Archived from the original on November 5, 2013. Retrieved November 5, 2013.
      46. ↑ "Gamesheet: Syracuse at Binghamton". American Hockey League. October 5, 2013. Archived from the original on October 28, 2013. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
      47. ↑ Kramer, Lindsay (November 1, 2013). "Syracuse Crunch rallies for 5-4 win over Rochester in a shootout". The Post-Standard. Archived from the original on November 5, 2013. Retrieved November 5, 2013.
      48. 1 2 "Gamesheet: Syracuse at Binghamton". American Hockey League. November 2, 2013. Archived from the original on November 5, 2013. Retrieved November 5, 2013.

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