Sens vs. Crunch 2/26/04 Articles: Crunch keep pace with Bulldogs
March 27, 2004

Posted by: Bob Howard
Credit: Ed Gonser of Our Sports Central Syracuse Crunch.com

Crunch keep pace with Bulldogs

Ed Gonser

March 26, 2004 - Syracuse---A fast start and a strong finish were a winning combination for the Syracuse Crunch in a 6-3 win over the Binghamton Senators at the Onondaga County War Memorial at Oncenter Friday.

Brad Moran opened and closed the scoring for the Crunch as the team continues to chase the Hamilton Bulldogs for the Division lead.

Moran's first the game came 21 seconds into the first period on a breakout pass from Zenith Komarniski that allowed the Crunch forward into the Binghamton zone untouched, finding the far top corner of the net.

Moran closed out the game's scoring on an empty-net goal with 33 seconds remaining in the third period.

Kent McDonell and Donald MacLean found the back of the Binghamton net before the first period was over. Senators goalie Ray Emery seemed handcuffed on both shots that fluttered past him.

Syracuse (34-20-10-6) increased its lead to four on a goal by Joe Motzko almost four minutes into the second period.

Binghamton (32-32-7-2) started to cut into the Crunch lead 35 seconds later on the first of two goals by Julien Vauclair. Vauclair was rushing the net with the Senators on the power play when a centering pass from Chris Kelly went in off of Vauclair's skate two minutes later for the defenseman's second of the night.

A blast from the left point early in the third by Steve Bancroft hit the far top corner behind Syracuse goalie Pascal Leclaire to cut the Crunch lead to one.

Motzko found Mark Hartigan all alone on Emery's doorstep with to put Syracuse back up by two. The Syracuse line of Motzko, Hartigan and MacLean combined for seven points in the game.

The win allowed Syracuse to help solidify second place in the North Division and keep pace with first place Hamilton and the Crunch still have three games in hand on the Bulldogs.

Binghamton's loss keeps the Senators in a log jam for the fourth spot in the East Division with the Norfolk Admirals and the Hershey Bears.