Syracuse Crunch center Tyler Johnson wins the AHL’s Willie Marshall Award

It was announced Sunday that AHL MVP Tyler Johnson has captured the AHL's goal-scoring title. Johnson amassed 37 goals in 62 games, including five very important goals in the three games he's played in Syracuse after being sent down by the Tampa Bay Lightning earlier this month.

The AHL's goal-scoring award was established in 2004 to honor Willie Marshall, the AHL's all-time leader in goals, assists, points and games played. Johnson finished with 65 points and a plus-26 rating for Syracuse this season. He also had three goals and three assists in 14 NHL contests with the Lightning.

Johnson scored a hat trick this past Friday in the Crunch's 6-1 tromping of the Norfolk Admirals, and also scored a goal in the Crunch's division-title-clinching win over the Worcester Sharks Saturday night. Johnson was a healthy scratch Sunday afternoon and did not play, an absence that was clearly felt as the Crunch fell 5-1 to the Binghamton Senators.