SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- The stark contrast in styles will continue to the very end, happy or sad, tonight or Tuesday.

The Syracuse Crunch will rail against all that moves, and lots that doesn't, flaunting their lack of respect and in turn befuddling those who watch, because they're actually a good hockey team. A good hockey team that leads the AHL North Division semifinal series 3-2 by virtue of three overtime wins.

And their opponents, the Manitoba Moose, will continue to do the self-examination thing, to grind away and be simply -- and possibly naively -- earnest in their hope to improve as they have done since December, hoping that will carry the series beyond tonight's Game 6 in the tiny, old central New York arena.

"I've said it every game, put it behind us," Moose coach Scott Arniel said heading into Game 6 (6 p.m. CT, CJOB, MTS-TV). "It's heartbreaking, these overtime games. In the same sense, we need to get going playing our game again, focus on Game 6, not Game 7, not about winning two games, just the next one."

Manitoba's body language after Saturday night's 3-2 extra-time setback was not lively, though the Moose are very good at saying all the right things.

But the situation heading into a very unfriendly building may not be as dire as first appearances.

The Moose have not only won a game in this series already in Syracuse, two years ago they closed out a six-game series victory here, and did it in overtime.

In elimination games, Manitoba has a winning record, rebounding from a dismal mark in this category in its early days of existence. Game 6's in their history also show a good track record, but usually, history and a buck will get you a bad cup of coffee.

As they prep for tonight's tell-tale game, the Moose recognize they'll just have to be better in several areas.

First off, they've had some clutch plays at good times in this series -- hello Cory Schneider, Mike Brown, Max Fortunus and Michael Grabner to name just a few -- but they haven't had enough.

Or better put, Syracuse has had more. At least on the ice.

And that leads us to the overtime issue.

Manitoba trails in this department three games to one. That's trouble, trouble that was already revealing itself late in the regular season. In the final three weeks of the season, the Moose dropped two overtime games against poor opponents Rochester and Grand Rapids.

Those games were important to the Moose, but they did not show it on the ice. Yes, regular-season overtime, with its five-minute and four-skater limits, is far more a gimmick than in the playoffs, but comparisons aren't out of line.

Whether it's a lack of urgency, killer instinct or simple ability, or maybe playing not to lose, it's hard to say.

"You have to make sure you're solid for the first five minutes," said Moose captain Mike Keane on his extensive overtime experience. "Usually it's ended in the first two or so minutes or it goes right through to the end of the period.

"It's very simplified in overtime. You get the puck in, look for lucky bounces here and there. You don't change too much, but just like during the regular periods, every little detail is most important, including good line changes and getting the puck out."

Keane, after Saturday's loss, mentioned that the Moose could be thinking about their preparation a little too much, and forgetting to play hard 100 per cent of the time.

The Moose were also singing from the same page on being ready to be better on the power play, which has been OK but now powerful enough for this kind of series.

"Obviously," defenceman Nolan Baumgartner said after Saturday's game. "We've got to score on the power play. Another one with the chances we had tonight, we win the game. Obviously it's one area we have to be better at. It's going to be a major factor in this game, as it usually is."

The coach, noted for his power-play expertise while he was an NHL assistant for four years, will no doubt be spending his preparation hours devising the options.

"I think our power play has to generate more," Arniel said. "We got that one power-play goal (Saturday) because we created traffic and shot some pucks. But we didn't do it the way we needed to. We turned pucks over, handed them back to them and give them credit because they're aggressive.

"But I think we can be better in that area and better at getting pucks to the net."

Getting better or getting back at somebody or something. Those are tonight's style choices.

tim.campbell@freepress.mb.ca

Microcosm of the series

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How much energy does it take to carry such constant disrespect for every element of the game, from opponents to officials to the league to the fans?

The answer is not known, but it's clear the Syracuse Crunch have a lot of energy.

An example of an illustrative off-ice event: On the day prior to Game 3, Syracuse hooligan Jon Mirasty is cursing out the Moose with a lengthy list of four-letter words. As reporters mill around waiting to ask coach Ross Yates a few questions, Mirasty is overheard in the hallway. The Moose's crime? Why, they loaned the Crunch some sticks so the visitors could practice, seeing as Syracuse's equipment was delayed by airlines.

An example of an on-ice event: In Game 5, Manitoba's Alex Bolduc tried rushing the puck through the neutral zone on the right side. He was pressured and in his haste, lofted the puck out of play into the Syracuse bench. As soon as this happened, he was descended upon, bumped and harassed well after the whistle by Syracuse players.

Neither is the worst of its category in this series, but both reveal volumes.

Moose record when:

Elimination is a possibility for either team: 16-12

They face elimination: 11-9

In all-time series: 9-9

In all Game 6's played: 5-2

A series ends in overtime: 3-2