We've made it to Syracuse, where the Bears are preparing to meet the Crunch tonight. Believe it or not, this is the first time we've been here at the War Memorial since October 14, 2006, which was just the third game of the 2006-07 season. Strange when the Crunch are just four hours up the road, and it's been 28 months since the Bears have played a game here.
Here's what's going on tonight:
-Needless to say after four straight losses, the Bears need to get back in the win column this evening. Hershey has not lost five games in a row since dropping six straight to close out the 2004-05 season. Yes, that would be the end of the Colorado Avalanche days. The current four-game skid is tied with February 28-March 5 (at Manitoba, at Hamilton, at Toronto, at Lowell) for the longest losing streak since affiliating with the Washington Capitals. That's history we don't need here in Syracuse this evening.
-Daren Machesney will draw the start on this Monday night. The Bears need him to make the big save if called upon this evening. Not sure how many people will be here this evening, but this is one of those buildings that's loud almost no matter what. Gotta make the home team earn it tonight, and that doesn't just fall on the goaltender.
-Steve Pinizzotto, Dean Arsene and Greg Amadio are all injury scratches tonight, so the 18 remaining healthy bodies are in. Kip Brennan returns to the ice tonight, and with Jon Mirasty on the other side, his pugilistic services might be called upon.
-With Wilkes-Barre/Scranton winning Sunday at home against Worcester, it's virtually a tie at the top of the East Division. The Pens are now just one point back with a game in hand. Wilkes-Barre also has the best winning percentage in the division. It will be two games in hand for the flightless birds after tonight's action, making a win here all the more important.
-Hershey returns home after the game tonight, departing for Rochester after practice on Thursday morning. Three more games in New York this month still loom, with the Amerks on Friday, and Binghamton next Wednesday and Friday at Broome County.
-Dan Bylsma didn't have much time to impose anything on his new team in Pittsburgh today, and the big Pens lost this afternoon in a shootout to the lowly Islanders 3-2. I've said this before: As much as it runs contrary to our Washington roots, we might have to root for Pittsburgh to make a comeback in the Eastern Conference. If the Big Pens miss, the Baby Pens load up. Loaded up Baby Pens=not good. Ottawa and the Isles will miss, helping Binghamton (Brian Elliott anyone?) and Bridgeport.
-Not much ever changes here at the OCWM, but there are two new additions in the bowl since we were here last. The Crunch hung a Charlestown Chiefs #7 banner in honor of the late Paul Newman in one corner, and there are also new ribbon boards in the rafters here. I'll refrain from making any stronger comment here other than that's like putting lipstick on a pig. But the place does have character, and Bruce Boudreau's movie career came through this place once upon a time. Good enough for me.
