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March 21, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Binghamton Senators News Release


LAST WEEK: Binghamton begins the week tied for first place in the East Division with the Philadelphia Phantoms. In a wild week the Senators earned four of a possible six points despite only leading the three games for a combined total of three minutes and eleven seconds.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16TH vs. BRIDGEPORT (3-4 SOL): The Sens fell behind 2-0 at 2:31 of the second period when ROB COLLINS scored a power-play goal for the Sound Tigers. ANTOINE VERMETTE responded with two second period goals to even the game and almost had a natural hat trick but was denied on a penalty shot opportunity by DIETER KOCHAN. The teams exchanged power-play goals in the third period with JUSTIN PAPINEAU lighting the lamp for Bridgeport and JASON SPEZZA doing the same for the Senators. The game went to a shootout and neither team would score until the fifth round. PAPINEAU scored in the seventh round for Bridgeport and DENIS HAMEL was denied by KOCHAN in Binghamton's final attempt. RAY EMERY stopped 37 of 40 shots for the Sens but lost his fourth shootout of the season. KOCHAN made 41 saves on 44 shots for the win. It was the second consecutive trip to Binghamton in which KOCHAN was forced to make more than 40 saves; he stopped all 45 shots in a 4-0 Sound Tiger win on Feb. 17th. Binghamton's league-leading power play converted on 1 of 4 opportunities while the Sound Tigers scored in 2 of 6 chances.

FRIDAY, MARCH 18TH vs. HERSHEY (2-3 SOL): RYAN STEEVES and MARTIN WILDE scored the game's first two goals to give Hershey an early lead. BRIAN POTHIER also scored in the first period on a power-play goal at 15:05. CHRIS NEIL put home a pass from CHARLIE STEPHENS for his first goal as a Binghamton Senator at 6:39 of the middle period. The game remained scoreless and the Sens killed a rare 5-on-3 power play in overtime to force a second consecutive shootout. This one lasted nine rounds with BRETT CLARK beating BILLY THOMPSON in the final round and DENIS HAMEL being denied in the Senators last chance. THOMPSON tied his season high with 39 saves, but his five-game winning streak was broken. PETER BUDAJ stopped 43 of 45 shots for the win. Binghamton was 1 for 3 on the power play while the Bears were 0 for 6.

SATURDAY, MARCH 19TH vs. PHILADELPHIA (4-3 W OT): After falling behind 2-0 for the third straight game, the Sens scored the game's next three goals. The comeback began with a JOSH LANGFELD power-play goal at 5:38 of the second period. BRANDON BOCHENSKI then tied the game only 57 seconds into the final period and ANTOINE VERMETTE gave Binghamton the lead at 13:12. But the Phantoms tied the game a little more than three minutes later with JON SIM'S second goal of the game. Binghamton avoided a third straight shootout when DENIS HAMEL lifted the Sens to victory with a goal at 3:56 of the extra period. It was the sixth game-winning goal for Hamel who is only two goals short of tying his professional career high. The Senators were able to increase their East Division lead over the Phantoms to two points with the victory. EMERY stopped 27 of 30 shots in the win while ANTERO NIITTYMAKI made 39 saves on 43 shots. It was the third straight game in which Binghamton took more than 40 shots. The Sens went 1 for 5 with the man advantage while the Phantoms were 0 for 2.

THIS WEEK: The Senators will travel south to take on the Norfolk Admirals for two weekend games. Norfolk is currently in third place, three points behind the B-Sens.

SATURDAY, MARCH 26TH @ NORFOLK (7:30 p.m.): The B-Sens are 2-3-1-0 in the season series against Norfolk. JASON SPEZZA leads all scorers with six points (2g, 4a) in six games. Defenseman MARTY WILFORD has five points (2g, 3a) to pace the Admirals. CHRIS KELLY leads all skaters with a +5 rating. Norfolk has been successful by shutting down Binghamton's league-leading power play. The Sens have converted on 1 of 32 chances (3.2%) against the Admirals. In the last meeting between the teams BILLY THOMPSON stopped all 31 Norfolk shots to earn his first shutout of the season. CHRISTOPH SCHUBERT and ANTOINE VERMETTE scored in the third period after the game was scoreless 48 minutes and 45 seconds.

SUNDAY, MARCH 27TH @ NORFOLK (4 p.m.): The Senators will face the Admirals for the final time during the regular season on Sunday. For Norfolk it will be the second of nine straight games at the Scope.

SENS SNIPPETS: Center JASON SPEZZA is closing in on the 100-point plateau. He enters the week with 95 points (26g, 69a). The last player to record 100 points in an AHL season is DEREK ARMSTRONG who accomplished the feat in the 2000-2001 season when he tallied 101 points (32g, 69a). SPEZZA has 21 points (3g, 18a) in the last 12 games....Winger JOSH LANGFELD has been scoring at a point a game pace since breaking out of a seven-game scoring drought between Jan. 28th and Feb. 11th. He has 15 points (7g, 8a) in the last 15 games...BRIAN McGRATTAN continues to close in on the AHL single season penalty minute record. He recorded five penalty minutes in each of the Sens games last week and now has 463 penalty minutes this season. He is 59 minutes shy of tying the record of 522 set by DENNIS BONVIE during the 1996-97 season when he played for the Hamilton Bulldogs...The Senators have taken more than 40 shots in each of the last three games...The Senators power play continues to lead the league with a 20.8% success rate. JASON SPEZZA leads the league in power-play points (41) and assists (31).

SENS IN THE COMMUNITY: No community appearances scheduled.

PRACTICE & GAME SCHEDULE FOR THE WEEK OF MARCH 14TH (SUBJECT TO CHANGE):

Monday, March 21 Off Day

Tuesday, March 22 10 a.m. Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena

Wednesday, March 23 10 a.m. Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena

Thursday, March 24 10 a.m. Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena

Friday, March 25 TBD Scope Arena, Norfolk, VA

Saturday, March 26 11:15 a.m. (Pre-game skate) Scope Arena

7:30 p.m. Binghamton @ Norfolk

Sunday, March 27 4 p.m. Scope Arena

Binghamton @ Norfolk

SENS LEADERS: POINTS: JASON SPEZZA – 95 GOALS: DENIS HAMEL – 32

ASSISTS: JASON SPEZZA – 69 PPG: DENIS HAMEL – 15

GWG: BRANDON BOCHEKSI & DENIS HAMEL – 6

SHG: JASON SPEZZA, CHRIS KELLY, JOSH LANGFELD & ANTOINE VERMETTE - 3

PIM: BRIAN McGRATTAN – 463

WINS: RAY EMERY – 20 GAA: BILLY THOMPSON – 2.39

B-SENS ON THE AIR: All Binghamton Senators games are broadcast live on 680-WINR, a Clear Channel station. Fans can also access the broadcasts online at www.binghamtonsenators.com. Tune in 30 minutes prior to faceoff for Countdown to Faceoff with the voice of the Binghamton Senators, Grady Whittenburg.

GET YOUR TICKETS: Tickets remain on sale for each of the B-Sens remaining regular season home games. Tickets are $15 for the sides and $14 for the ends. Fans can purchase tickets at the following locations: Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena box office (Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Saturday, 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.), Binghamton Senators executive office, third floor of the arena (Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. and on game days until the end of the second period.), www.ticketmaster.com or by calling (607) 722-SENS.



American Hockey League Stories from March 21, 2005


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