The Syracuse Crunch look for points in the standings for their 10th straight game on Wednesday night when they host Binghamton. The Crunch have propelled themselves into the playoff hunt with the late season streak, currently tied for the 8th and final spot with 6 games to go, and their owner Howard Dolgon could not be more impressed.
"The guys made a commitment," says Dolgon, "the goal is the playoffs. Hopefully we're just in the beginning of a long streak here that can take us well into June."
It's not only the Crunch owner and affiliate the Anaheim Ducks hoping the team can make the playoffs for the first time since 2008. Dolgon says he's been told the American Hockey League benefits from Syracuse playing in the postseason.
"The league president will tell you they love having the playoffs in Syracuse because our fans come out in doves, support the team, they're loud. We've been out of the playoffs the last 3 seasons and we know ownership, out players and certainly our fans are eager to get back in."
Things have certainly turned around for the Crunch who looked all but out of the playoffs before Trent Yawney was named associate Head Coach mid-season. And while Dolgon admits it took a while for the players to get used to what Yawney was looking for out of them, the style of play now is what the team was probably capable of all along.
"We're a big team that's now playing a big game. We're imposing our size, we're playing not 20 minutes, not 40 minutes, (but) 60 minutes of hockey. We're playing very capable in our own end, we're getting opportunities offensively. Really the style that this team should have been playing for a long time."
Puck drops at 7:05 against Binghamton on Wednesday at the War Memorial Arena.
