B-Sens Weekly

March 23, 2010 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Binghamton Senators News Release


LAST WEEK...

Wednesday, March 17: Hershey 5, Binghamton 3

Shots: Hershey 26, Binghamton 44

PP: Hershey 1 for 5, Binghamton 0 for 3

The B-Sens began another busy week of four games in five nights with a St. Patrick's Day tilt versus the East Division leading Hershey Bears. Despite outshooting the Bears 44 to 26, Hershey went on to win 5-3 in order to earn the point they needed to clinch the division title. Jonathan Cheechoo, Geoff Kinrade and Craig Schira each recorded goals for Binghamton, while Kyle Wilson and Andrew Joudrey each tallied a pair for Hershey. Chris Holt started in goal making 21 saves in the losing effort.

Friday, March 19: Rochester 2, Binghamton 4

Shots: Rochester 32, Binghamton 36

PP: Rochester 1 for 5, Binghamton 3 for 7

Three power play goals helped propel the B-Sens past the Rochester Americans and into a three way tie for fifth place in the East Division with Adirondack and Syracuse. Martin St. Pierre net the B-Sens' first two goals on the power play. Reigning AHL Player of the Week (for the week ending March 14) Josh Hennessy recorded an assist on each of St. Pierre's goals. Ryan Keller scored what would be the eventual game winner, while goaltender Chris Holt net an empty netter on the power play with 24 seconds remaining in regulation to become the 10th goaltender in American Hockey League history to score a goal. Holt stopped 30 of 32 shots in the B-Sens victory.

Saturday, March 20: Albany 1, Binghamton 2

Shots: Albany 31, Binghamton 31

PP: Albany 0 for 2, Binghamton 0 for 3

The B-Sens kicked off a home-and-home series with the River Rats Saturday with a 2-1 victory over Albany at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena. Martin St. Pierre and Jonathan Cheechoo each recorded unassisted goals for the B-Sens, while Chris Holt made 30 saves in his fourth, consecutive start.

Sunday, March 21: Binghamton 3, Albany 2

Shots: Binghamton 26, Albany 26

PP: Binghamton 1 for 4, Albany 1 for 5

The B-Sens capped off their week with another one-goal victory over the River Rats, this time at the Times Union Center in Albany, N.Y. Denis Hamel led the offense for the B-Sens with a two-point night (one goal, one assist). Josh Hennessy and Geoff Kinrade also recorded goals for the B-Sens, while Chris Holt ended his week with a 24 save performance.

Record: 31-32-5-3

Standings: The B-Sens are in fifth place in the East division (70 points)

THIS WEEK...

Wednesday, March 24 vs. Toronto Marlies (Toronto Maple Leafs)

The Toronto Marlies make their only appearance at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena this Wednesday. The Marlies (29-30-6-5, 69 points) are tied with the Lake Erie Monsters for fifth place in the North Division. The B-Sens and Marlies last met in Toronto on Nov. 27, a 5-4 loss for Binghamton. Josh Hennessy recorded a two-point night against the Marlies with a goal and an assist. The Marlies enter the game with only nine road wins, although their last win away from the Ricoh Coliseum came Jan. 13 in Milwaukee (a 3-2 win over the Admirals). Former B-Sen Brennan Evans comes to town. He is currently leading the Marlies in penalty minutes, and is ranked 12th overall in the AHL with 181 penalty minutes.

Friday, March 26 @ Rochester Americans (Florida Panthers)

The B-Sens travel to Rochester to take on the Amerks for the second time in the span of a week. The Amerks will be looking to rebound from their 4-2 loss in Binghamton last week as they battle for playoff positioning in the North Division. Rochester enters the week third in the North with a record of 38-30-2-0 (78 points). The game between the inter-division rivals is the last of ten between the teams during the 2009-10 season. Rochester holds the edge in the series having gone 6-3 against the B-Sens. All three B-Sens victories over the Amerks have come at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena.

Sunday, March 21 @ Hershey Bears (Washington Capitals)

In what will likely be the most challenging match for the B-Sens this week, Sunday the team travels to the Giant Center to take on the East Division Champions, the Hershey Bears. The Bears lead the American Hockey League with a record of 53-14-0-3 (109 points) and have a commanding 29-4-0-2 record on home ice. One of their four losses at home came against the Binghamton Senators. Oct. 24 the B-Sens left Chocolate Town having beaten the bears 5-2.

SENS SNIPPITS

Chris Holt earned the nod as the B-Sens nominee for Reebok/AHL Player of the Week for the week ending March 21. Holt started in all four B-Sens games last week, earning a 3-1 record. In four games Holt stopped 105 of 114 shots faced, ending the week with a 2.27 goals-against average and a 0.921 save percentage. Friday, March 19 versus Rochester (a 4-2 B-Sens victory), Holt scored a goal with 24 seconds remaining in regulation to become only the 10th goaltender in American Hockey League history to do so.

Denis Hamel played in his 700th career American Hockey League game Saturday, March 20 versus the Albany River Rats.

Martin St. Pierre's assist Sunday, March 21 at Albany earned him his 400th career American Hockey League point.

The B-Sens have won nine of their last 12 games and have pushed their way to fifth place in the East Division. Binghamton enters the week trailing the last playoff spot in the AHL's Eastern Conference by eight points.



American Hockey League Stories from March 23, 2010


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