Binghamton Earns Two Points in Three Games

January 9, 2006 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Binghamton Senators News Release


LAST WEEK: Binghamton earned two points in three games with the lone win a 4-0 shutout of the Hershey Bears on Saturday.

FRIDAY, JAN. 6TH vs. ROCHESTER (2-6 L): Binghamton goaltender Billy Thompson stopped 21 of 22 shots in the first period, but Rochester was able to break through for five goals in the second period on their way to a 6-2 win at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena on Friday night. The away team has won five of six games in the series this season. Winger Grant Potulny had two goals in the loss to extend his goal scoring streak to three games (7 goals). Rochester native Sam Paolini scored the game-winning goal for the Amerks, his first of the season, and defenseman Nathan Paetsch had a pair of goals in the win. Goalie Jean-Marc Pelletier stopped 30 of 32 shots in the loss while Billy Thompson made 35 saves on 41 shots. The teams combined for 139 penalty minutes, the most in a B-Sens game this season. Each team had seven power-play opportunities with Rochester scoring three times and Binghamton scoring twice.

SATURDAY, JAN. 7TH vs. HERSHEY (4-0 W): Binghamton bounced back from Friday's loss with a 4-0 shutout of the Hershey Bears, who entered the game in second place in the Eastern Conference with a 22-7-2-6 record and 52 points. Thanks to a stellar performance by goaltender Kelly Guard, the Senators were able to snap an eight-game losing streak against the East Division. Winger Jeff Heerema had a pair of goals in the win to snap a 10-game goal drought and Grant Potulny continued to be red-hot with three assists and a +3 rating. Winger Charlie Stephens also had a three-point night (1 goal, 2 assists) while forward Joe Cullen had Binghamton's other goal. Binghamton won despite being outshot 44 to 30 and receiving eight less power plays than the Bears. Binghamton killed all 11 of Hershey's power plays while going scoreless in three chances.

SUNDAY, JAN. 8TH @ PROVIDENCE (3-4 L): Binghamton capped off the weekend with a 4-3 loss in the team's only visit this season to Providence. The Bruins scored on four of seven power-play chances with the first goal coming only 1:35 into the game with defenseman Neil Komadoski in the penalty box for hooking. After allowing a 2-0 lead, the Senators would three times cut the Bruins advantage to one goal, but Binghamton could not find the equalizer. Forwards Gregg Johnson, Danny Bois and Jeff Heerema all scored for Binghamton. Grant Potulny had two assists to extend his points streak to a career-high five games (7 goals, 5 assists). Kelly Guard stopped 23 of 27 shots in the loss while Tim Thomas blocked 25 of 28 Binghamton attempts.

THIS WEEK: Binghamton will host Springfield for the only time this season on Friday and finish a short week with another home game on Saturday against Bridgeport.

FRIDAY, JAN. 13TH vs. SPRINGFIELD (7:05 p.m.): The Zooperstars return to Binghamton on Friday night! See www.zooperstars.com for more information on the hilarious Zooperstar characters such as Mario Lemule and Clammy Sosa: Springfield begins the week with a 14-17-4-2 record and 34 points, tying Binghamton for ninth in the Eastern Conference. But the Falcons have been sliding down the standing with 10 straight losses. Their last win was a 5-4 victory at home against the Manchester Monarchs on Dec .10. Springfield has also lost six straight road games. Center Jason Jaspers leads the Falcons in scoring with 35 points (16 goals, 19 assists) in 37 games. Binghamton holds a 7-5-0-1-0 (W-L-T-OTL-SOL) advantage in the all-time series. Binghamton beat the Falcons 7-1 in their last appearance at the Arena on Dec. 31, 2004. Denis Hamel had his first hat trick as a Senator in the victory.

SATURDAY, JAN. 14TH vs. BRIDGEPORT (7:05 p.m.): Roberts Eyecare Associates brings you the Beach Party Blast on Saturday night. Come watch the B-Sens and receive a set of free sunglasses courtesy of Roberts Eyecare Associates: Binghamton returns to divisional play as Bridgeport visits the Arena on Saturday for the first time since Binghamton's first home game of the season on Oct. 15. The Sound Tigers won that game 5-4 and also beat the Sens 6-1 in their only other meeting on Nov. 6 at Bridgeport. Bridgeport enters the week on a six-game winning streak and has outscored its opponents 22 to 5 during the stretch. Binghamton has a 10-11-1-0-2 (W-L-T-OTL-SOL) all-time record against Bridgeport including a 7-4-0-0-1 advantage on home ice.

SENS SNIPPETS: Binghamton's win against Hershey on Saturday was the first Senators game without a special teams goal since Binghamton beat Providence 4-3 on Dec. 17... Grant Potulny has been red-hot for the Senators. He has points in five-straight games, a new career high, and has 12 points (7 goals, 5 assists) during the stretch. It all began on Dec. 30 when the second-year winger had four goals, a new franchise record, in a 6-3 win on the road against Rochester... Binghamton's 4-0 win against Hershey on Saturday night was the club's third shutout of the season. All of them have been recorded by rookie goaltender Kelly Guard. The Senators recorded only two shutouts all of last season. Jeff Heerema's second goal against Hershey on Saturday night gave the winger 200 points (86 goals, 114 assists) in 269 career American Hockey League games...Binghamton begins a stretch where it will play seven of eight games against East Division foes on Saturday when Bridgeport visits town. The Senators broke an eight-game losing streak to the East Division on Saturday against Hershey and now have a record of 2-11-2-1 against divisional rivals.

BERRY & WATTERS RELEASED: Forwards Mike Berry and Kevin Watters were released from the 25-game professional tryout agreements that they each signed on Saturday night. Both players were released after playing in Binghamton's 4-3 loss to Providence on Sunday and returned to the Adirondack Frostbite of the United Hockey League.

SENS IN THE COMMUNITY: The Binghamton Senators third media luncheon of the 2005-06 season will be held Wednesday, Jan. 11 at 1:30 p.m. inside the Holiday Inn Arena...One of the Senators' major community efforts will be held on Sunday, Jan. 15 when the team participates in the second annual Spaghetti on Ice dinner at the Holiday Inn Arena in downtown Binghamton from 1 to 4 p.m. Players will serve all patrons a spaghetti dinner and compete for tips. The cost to attend the Spaghetti on Ice dinner is $15 and all proceeds will benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Tickets may be purchased at the Muscular Dystrophy Association office at 1249 Upper Front Street in Binghamton, at the Senators' executive office on the third floor of the Arena, or by calling (607) 723-7431. A pair of B-Sens will visit the Oakdale Mall in Johnson City from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday. The players will be available to meet with fans and sign autographs in front of the B-Sens' Center Ice Team Shop.

PRACTICE & GAME SCHEDULE FOR THE WEEK OF JAN 9th (SUBJECT TO CHANGE):

Monday, Jan. 9 Off Day

Tuesday, Jan. 10 10 a.m. Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena

Wednesday, Jan. 11 10 a.m. Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena

Thursday, Jan. 12 10 a.m. Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena

Friday, Jan. 13 10 a.m. (morning skate) Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena

7:05 p.m. Springfield @ Binghamton

Saturday, Jan. 14 10 a.m. (morning skate) Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena

7:05 p.m. Bridgeport @ Binghamton

Sunday, Jan. 15 Off Day

SENS LEADERS: POINTS: Hamel (20+23=43) GOALS: Hamel (20)

ASSISTS: Martins (24)

PPG: Hamel (11)

GWG: Martins (3)

SHG: Eaves, Hamel, Watson, Potulny, Cullen, Novak & Johnson (1)

PIM: Ward (145)

WINS: Guard (10) GAA: Guard (2.86)

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

B-SENS ON THE INTERNET: A new partnership between the B2 Networks and the American Hockey League will allow fans of the Binghamton Senators to watch all of the exciting action online, whether the team is home or away, via streaming video. For only $6 and a high-speed internet connection, you can tap into the B2 Networks this season by following the B2 link on www.binghamtonsenators.com.

GET YOUR TICKETS: Tickets are currently on sale for all of the B-Sens regular season home games. Tickets cost $15.50 for side seating and $14.50 for end seating. 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.binghamtonsenators.com or by calling (607) 722-SENS.



American Hockey League Stories from January 9, 2006


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