B-Sens Weekly

January 26, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Binghamton Senators News Release


LAST WEEK: The Sens (19-19-4-2) enter the week with 44 points, good for fifth place in the East Division, coming off of a 1-2-0-0 showing last week. The club is three points behind fourth place Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and one point up on sixth place Norfolk.

MONDAY, JAN. 19th @ PROVIDENCE (1-3 L): The Bruins struck for two goals in a 2:19 stretch spanning the first and second periods to spark Providence on to the win. ANDY HILBERT rammed a MILA JURCINA rebound past BILLY THOMPSON (22 saves) with four tenths of a second left in the first period and BRIAN WHITE notched a shorthanded goal 2:18 into the middle period to provide the winning margin. CHRIS KELLY had Binghamton's only goal, extending his point streak to four and his goal streak to two, when he flipped a rebound past TIM THOMAS (26 saves) at 8:16 of the second period. The Sens were 0x4 on the power play and killed off both Bruin power play chances. Binghamton outshot Providence 27-25.

FRIDAY, JAN. 23rd @ ALBANY (0-3 L): The River Rats scored once in each period to coast to their third win of the year in seven tries against the Sens. RAY GIROUX's power play goal midway through the opening period would be the only offense the Rats would need. BILLY THOMPSON (26 saves) took the loss in making his fourth consecutive start. ARI AHONEN notched the shutout, stopping all 29 shots. Binghamton was scoreless in five power play chances and killed off four of five Rat man advantages.

SATURDAY, JAN. 24th vs. ROCHESTER (3-1 W): The Sens knocked of the Amerks for the second time at the Arena this season behind rookie BROOKS LAICH's two goals, the first multi-goal game of his pro career. LAICH now has points in seven of his last ten games (4+5=9). RAY EMERY's return to goal produced 22 saves and 2nd Star honors. Newly acquired CHARLIE STEPHENS became the third mid-season acquisition (BRAD TAPPER & MIKE BROWN) by the Senators organization to net a goal in his B-Sens debut when he sealed the win on an empty-netter with 1:26 let in regulation. Binghamton held a 31-23 shots advantage while both clubs were 0x3 on the power play.

THIS WEEK: Binghamton faces another three-game week with road games at Rochester Wednesday and Albany Friday before returning home Saturday to face the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 28th @ ROCHESTER (7:05 p.m.): The Sens and Amerks meet for the fourth of eight regular season meetings and the second of four at Blue Cross Arena. Season series: 2-1-0-0 Sens (Sens 0-1-0-0 in Rochester)...All-time series: 6-2-2-0 Sens (Sens 1-2-1-0 in Rochester). Seven players have two points each in the series with BROOKS LAICH and BRIAN McGRATTAN leading the pack with two goals each. RAY EMERY has been in goal for all three contests, posting a 1.66 GAA. DEREK ROY, currently on recall with Buffalo, has three points in two games against the Sens while RICK MROZIK, DOMENIC PITTIS, and NORM MILLEY have two points each.

FRIDAY, JAN. 30th @ ALBANY (7:00 p.m.): The Sens and the River Rats, Binghamton's most frequent opponent this season, meet in the eighth of ten regular season contests and the fourth of five in Albany. Season series: 3-3-1 (Sens 1-2-0-0 in Albany)...All-time series: 9-3-3-0 Sens (Sens 4-2-1-0 in Albany). DENIS HAMEL leads the Sens in series scoring with three goals and eight points. CRAIG DARBY's four goals and nine points pace the Rats against the Sens. BILLY THOMPSON (3-2-0, 2.79) has been in goal for the last five meetings versus the Rats. ARI AHONEN (3-2-0, 2.39) has seen the bulk of time against Binghamton in goal, appearing in five of the seven previous games. 11 of Binghamton's 21 goals in the series have come in the second period while Albany has prospered in the third period with half of their 20 goals coming in the final frame.

SATURDAY, JAN. 31st vs. WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON (7:05 p.m.): B-Sens Garage Sale/Greater Binghamton Mascot Night The Sens and Pens hook up for the third of eight regular season contests and the third of four at the Arena. Season series: 0-1-1-0 (0-1-1-0 in Binghamton)...All-time series: 5-4-1-0 Binghamton (3-2-1-0 in Binghamton). No Senator has more than one point in the season series while five Pens have two points each lead by rookie MICHEL OUELLET's two goals.

B-NOTES: The Senators set a franchise record with their 10th sellout of the season Saturday versus Rochester...January 31st is Greater Binghamton Mascot Night with the Binghamton Mets, Binghamton University, Broome Community College, and select businesses represented by their mascots...When the doors open at 6:00 p.m. Saturday night, fans can purchase game-used gears (skates, gloves, sticks, goalie gear, etc.) at the Binghamton Senators Garage Sale on the Stuart Street, second level concourse entry...JOSH LANGFELD has four goals in his last seven games during his latest recall with the Ottawa Senators.

SENS IN THE COMMUNTIY:

Tuesday, January 27th George F. Johnson School LAICH, THOMPSON, WATSON YMCA Reading Program HYMOVITZ, BANCROFT

Thursday, January 29th Newark Valley Elementary PLATIL, SMREK, SCHUBERT



American Hockey League Stories from January 26, 2004


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