B-Sens Weekly

Published on January 5, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Binghamton Senators News Release


LAST WEEK: The Sens (15-15-3-2) defeated league-leading Bridgeport for the third time this season on New Year's Eve, but dropped both weekend contests to fall into sixth place in the East Division, one point behind Norfolk while sitting seven points in front of last place Albany.

WEDNESDAY, DEC 31st vs. BRIDGEPORT (2-0 W): RAY EMERY (29 saves) led the Sens to their second shutout of the first place Sound Tigers in six days in front of another full house (4,717) at the Arena. DENIS HAMEL scored both Binghamton goals. His shorthanded breakaway goal 8:33 was the 100th of his AHL career. HAMEL then added his second of the game and 14th of the year into an empty net with one second remaining in the contest. For EMERY, it was his second shutout of the season and the 9th of his AHL career. He was particularly sharp in the final period when the Sens were outshot 14-5 and Bridgeport pressed for the tying goal. On the game, the Sens held a 30-29 shot advantage, were scoreless on the power play on five chances while killing off all six Sound Tiger man-up opportunities.

FRIDAY, JAN. 2nd vs. NORFOLK (0-4 L): For the second time in three visits to Binghamton spanning back to last season, the Admirals skated out of town with a 4-0 shutout win to disappoint a third consecutive capacity crowd (4,717) at the Arena. The Sens saw their two-game winning streak halted on goals by YORICK TREILLE (GWG), AJAY BAINES, and a pair from IGOR RADULOV. TREILLE's marker, jammed home from a crowd in front of RAY EMERY (32 saves), stood up as the game-winner 13:49 into the game. With Norfolk leading 2-0, ALEXANDRE GIROUX was awarded a penalty shot with 6:14 left in the second period. GIROUX, just the second Senator ever to take a penalty shot (BRAD SMYTH, 11/23/02, vs. Hamilton, no goal) was denied by Star of the Game CRAIG ANDERSON (31 saves) to lead the Admirals to their fourth straight win. Norfolk outshot Binghamton 36-31 and was 0x5 on the power play. The Sens continued to struggle on the power play in going 0x4.

SATURDAY, JAN. 3rd vs. SPRINGFIELD (2-3 L): In the only meeting of the year in Binghamton between the clubs, the Falcons claimed the road win before a crowd of 4,576. The clubs traded first period goals with Springfield's MATT SPILLER in the box for high sticking. GORAN BEZINA converted an ERIK WESTRUM rebound for a shorthanded strike at 9:37 for a 1-0 lead. Just 60 seconds later, BROOKS LAICH tipped a JULIEN VAUCLAIR point shot past JEAN-MARC PELLETIER (35 saves) to tie the game. For LAICH, it was his 6th goal overall while it was his 5th special teams goal of the season (4 PP, 1 SH). The teams then combined for three goals in a 3:50 span of the second period capped off by KRYS KOLANOS' game-winner at 17:51. PELLETIER and the Falcon penalty kill was at its best in the third period, denying Binghamton on four chances, including a 5x3 advantage for 1:43. Overall, the Sens went 1x7 on the man-up while killing off all six Springfield power plays.

THIS WEEK: Binghamton wraps up its five-game homestand with home tilts Friday (Albany) and Saturday (Philadelphia) before hitting the road Sunday to battle the Hershey Bears.

FRIDAY, JAN. 9th vs. ALBANY (7:05 p.m.) The Sens and River Rats meet for the fifth time this season in the third encounter of five at the Arena. Albany leads the season series 2-1-1 and is 1-0-1 in Binghamton. The Rats held off a late Sens rally to take a 3-2 decision on December 27th in the most recent meeting. The River Rats are led by C CRAIG DARBY who begins the week on recall to the New Jersey Devils. DARBY's 11+15=26 totals top the Rats in all three categories and is tied for the team lead with 4 PPG and 2 SHG. In the season series, DARBY leads Albany with five points (2+3) while G ARI AHONEN has appeared in three of the four previous games (2-1), allowing eight goals while DANIEL CORSO and SERGE PAYER have identical 2+2=4 totals to lead the Sens. RW ALEKSANDER SUGLOBOV is on a four-game goal streak and is T-6th in rookie scoring with 21 points.

SATURDAY, JAN. 3rd vs. PHILADELPHIA (7:05 p.m.): The Phantoms come to Binghamton for the first of three meetings at the Arena and the third of six encounters overall. The Sens recorded wins in the first two contests this season, both in Philadelphia: 4-2 on October 10th and 5-1 on December 28th. The most recent match featured four brawls in the final 3:50 and 363 penalty minutes overall. RW BOYD KANE is the Phantoms' only multi-point scorer in the series (1+1) while DENIS HAMEL has two goals in five points in the two games. Overall, RW KIRBY LAW leads the club with 14 goals and 34 points.

SUNDAY, JAN. 4th @ HERSHEY (5:00 p.m.): Binghamton heads to Hershey for the first time this season for the second of four regular season games. Hershey took the only meeting of the year, 3-2, back on October 24th on ERIC PERRIN's goal 2:30 into overtime. The game also featured the fastest goal ever allowed by the Sens to start a game when TRAVIS BRIGLEY scored just nine seconds into the contest. JOSH LANGFELD was the only multi-point performer that night with 1+1=2. PERRIN's 36 points (13+23) lead the Bears and places him sixth in the league scoring race. D PASCAL TREPANIER is tied for points (24) and assists (20) among league blueliners.

SENS SNIPPETS: The Senators logged a franchise record third consecutive sellout last Friday versus Norfolk. Falling 141 fans shy of 4,717, the string came to end Saturday with Springfield in town...With eight sellouts to date, the Sens are a lock to surpass last year's total of nine and have played to 92% capacity (4,352/4,717)...The club is +420 fans/game compared to last year after 20 home dates...While it has been a struggle to score on the power play, the Sens have been just as stingy keeping opponents off the board in killing off their last 33 shorthanded situations dating backing to December 20th at Worcester...DENIS HAMEL 100th career AHL goal was the game winner in a New Year's Eve win over Bridgeport...The Sens have dealt Bridgeport three of their seven regulation losses overall and two of their three on the road.

SENS IN THE COMMUNTIY: No player appearances are scheduled this week.

B-SENS ON THE AIR: All Binghamton Senators contests are broadcast live on Clear Channel radio's 680-WINR with the M&T Bank Countdown to Face-Off preceding each broadcast 20 minutes prior to the scheduled face-off time. Fans can also access the broadcasts on-line at www.binghamtonsenators.com or at www.sportsjuice.com. B-Sens web casts are presented by Integrated Computer Solutions.

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American Hockey League Stories from January 5, 2004


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