AHL Today: Toronto heads into Texas in Western Conference showdown, San Antonio trifecta ends in OT

AHL Today is a roundup of the night that was, the day ahead, and anything you may have missed. Your quick look at what’s going on around the league.

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To Watch:

• NORFOLK at SYRACUSE: As you may or may not have heard, Syracuse ran into some trouble filling their crease for this afternoon’s affair with the visiting Admirals. After both their goaltenders were recalled by the Lightning, Riku Helenius’ suspension for breach of contract, and getting Allen York on loan from ECHL South Carolina, they had to go out and sign another goaltender to back up York, and signed Grant Rollheiser from the CHL’s Brampton Beast. Suffice to say that goaltending in Syracuse will be the thing to watch in this contest.
• TORONTO at TEXAS: After their overtime defeat of the Rampage last night, the Marlies head into Texas to take on the West Division leading Texas Stars. Texas won the last meeting between the two teams, a convincing 5-2 victory back on Nov. 23, but dropped the first matchup this season 3-2 in shootout. In their two games this season, Stars’ Cameron Gaunce leads all players with three points — all assists.

Last Night:

• MANCHESTER 5, BINGHAMTON 1:  The Sens were just three minutes away from being shutout by the Monarchs when they travelled to Manchester, but a David Dziurzynski goal with 2:51 left on the clock in the third period. Nathan Lawson got the hook halfway through the game after he allowed five goals on 21 shots. Jean-Francois Berube got the win for the Monarchs, stopping 27 of 28 shots, and Tanner Pearson had the game-winner with just over five-minutes left in the first.
• TORONTO 4, SAN ANTONIO 3 (OT): San Antonio’s Western Whooping Tour came to an end last night as they failed to complete the clean sweep of the West’s top seeds. The Rampage were a minute away from the win, but with 55 seconds left on the clock, Marlies winger Jerry D’Amigo buried one to tie the game at 3. In the extra frame, Toronto got a powerplay, and newest Marlie Brandon Kozun buried the winner just 34-ticks into the extra frame. San Antonio successfully took a point from each of the top three seeds in the West, but fell just short of the trifecta.

Moves:

Syracuse Crunch
Kristers Gudlevskis (G) To: Tampa Bay Lightning
Cédrick Desjardins (G) To: Tampa Bay Lightning
Rochester Americans
Brandon MacLean (F) To: Florida Everblades
Albany Devils
Mike Sislo (F) To: New Jersey Devils
Éric Gélinas (D) From: New Jersey Devils
Hershey Bears
Ryan Stoa (F) From: Washington Capitals
Tyson Strachan (D) To: Washington Capitals
Lake Erie Monsters
Vincent Arseneau (F) To: Denver Cutthroats
Mikaël Tam (D) To: Denver Cutthroats
Charlotte Checkers
Sean Dolan (F) To: Florida Everblades

News & Notes:

• MLive’s Brendan Savage on Patrick Eaves, who turned an early season demotion into a positive thing and is turning it into some success back with the Red Wings. [MLive]
• AHL.com with a nice piece on Brodie Reid getting things back together this season with the Worcester Sharks. [AHL.com]
• Fans in Utica last night set this season’s record for a 50/50, putting together a pot of $15,400.

 

(Cover image courtesy Wally Gobetz.)

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Leafs, Kings make AHL swap

The Toronto Maple Leafs and Los Angeles Kings agreed to deal yesterday afternoon that shuffled the deck for their AHL squads.

Forward Brandon Kozun, a sixth-round pick by the Kings in 2009, was sent to the Leafs in exchange for forward Andrew Crescenzi, an unrestricted free agent who signed with Toronto back in September 2010.

Kozun, the more notable of the two names in the deal, is a product of the famed Shattuck St. Mary’s, where he played a single season before moving on to the Alberta Junior Hockey League and then to the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen.

Born in Los Angeles, but with Canadian nationality, Kozun now finds himself back in his home country. In 277 career games with the Monarchs, the 5’8″ forward has tallied 81 goals and 106 assists. This season, in 43 games, Kozun has potted 10 goals to go along with 19 helpers.

Crescenzi, in his first season as a full-time AHLer, had been little more than a role player for the Marlies. In 32 games this season, the Thorhill, Ont. native posted a goal and two assists. He spent parts of last season with the ECHL’s San Francisco Bulls, and suited up for 15 games with the Marlies.

Undrafted, Crescenzi made got to the AHL by way of the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers.