In the old days of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Mark Barberio may be a 2-year veteran at this point in his career.
The Lightning had little organizational depth and if prospects showed flashes of NHL ability, they were called up to the big club and thrown to the proverbial wolves.
When new general manager Steve Yzerman took over, he changed all that, and Barberio is a prime example of his player development philosophy.
TAMPA BAY – The Tampa Bay Lightning have recalled defenseman Mark Barberio from the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League, vice president and general manager Steve Yzerman announced today. Additionally, defenseman Matt Taormina has been reassigned to the Crunch
Barberio, 23, has played in 70 games this season with the Crunch, posting eight goals and 40 points to go along with 44 penalty minutes and a plus-7 rating. He ranks third for assists (32) and fifth for points among AHL defensemen. The Montreal, Quebec native leads all Crunch defensemen in goals, assists and points. Of his eight goals this season, five have been recorded while on the man-advantage.
The 6-foot-1, 185-pound defenseman has skated in 212 career AHL games with the Crunch and Norfolk Admirals, posting 30 goals and 132 points with 111 penalty minutes. Last season, while playing for the Admirals, Barberio won the Eddie Shore Award as the AHL’s top defenseman. He was also part of the Admirals team that won the Calder Cup, registering two goals and nine points in 18 games during the playoffs.
Barberio was drafted by the Lightning in the sixth round, 152nd overall, of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.
Rob Zettler's first win allows Syracuse to keep pace in the East.
SYR-2
HER-1
Riku Helenius allowed just 1 goal on 20 shots for the big win. Once again, he's eased his season save percentage up to .900.
First Period
SYR Cote, (3) (Devos, Hutchings), 10:07
Second Period
HER Crabb, (2) (Taffe, Schmidt), 19:05
Third Period
SYR Palat, (12) (Richard, Sexton), 3:50
Ondrej Palat and J.P. Cote were the game's first and second stars.
Congratulations to Tanner Richard on his first professional point. Naturally, it was an assist. Luke Witkowski made his professional debut in the game.
This is how Syracuse has to scratch out wins with their finishers called up to Tampa Bay. It's got to be low scoring games and finding a way to get key goals at key times. Providence and Springfield won tonight, and Binghamton is going down late to Norfolk. If that holds, that will leave Syracuse 2 points behind Providence for tops in the East and 2 points clear of Binghamton for the East Division lead. Syracuse's last road game of the regular season is Tuesday against Lake Erie. They'll end with 5 straight at home, which might be edge they need to take the top spot in the East.
Box score from TheAHL.com.
Rob Zettler kept his attention on the task at hand.
The Syracuse Crunch coach, despite hearing his team had clinched a playoff spot with a pair of Eastern Conference teams losing, focused on his team's comeback attempt late in the third period. But the 3-1 deficit turned to 4-1 with an empty-netter, and the Hershey Bears provided the rain for the Crunch clinching party at the Onondaga County War Memorial Friday night.
"We're in, but it didn't feel very good," Zettler said.
Still seeking win one under Zettler.
HER-4
SYR-1
Cedrick Desjardins allowed 3 goals on 26 shots for the loss.
First Period
HER Kane, (14) (Orlov, Wellman), 9:18
SYR Jacques, (6) (Angelidis), 17:08
Second Period
HER Kundratek, (14) (Potulny, Kane), 19:21
Third Period
HER LeBlanc, (10) , 10:06
HER Kundratek, (15) , 19:51 (EN)
Time is slipping away for the Crunch to regain their footing. They will end the night 2 points out of the top spot in the Eastern Conference and tied inside their division. They have a rematch with Hershey in Hershey tomorrow night, which starts a 2 game road trip that will be the final roadie of the regular season.
Box score from TheAHL.com.
