Binghamton Senators Weekly

March 20, 2006 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Binghamton Senators News Release


LAST WEEK: The B-Sens earned seven of a possible eight points last week and narrowed the gap to only eight points in the race for the final playoff spot in the East Division.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15TH vs. WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON (3-2 W SO): Binghamton took the lead early when JOE CULLEN scored only two minutes and 30 seconds into the action. Rookie forward BOBBY ROBINS, playing in his first pro contest, tallied an assist on his first pro shift. But the Penguins scored two goals before the first period came to a conclusion and held their 2-1 lead into the third period. But it took only 37 seconds for winger JEFF HEEREMA to even the score with his 19th goal of the season. After a scoreless overtime, the B-Sens scored on their first two shootout attempts, with CHARLIE STEPHENS and HEEREMA scoring in succession, and goalie KELLY GUARD stopped all four Wilkes-Barre shooters en route to the Sens first win against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this season. GUARD earned the game's first star for stopping 32 of 34 Wilkes-Barre shots. ANDY CHOIDO made 33 saves on 35 shots for the Pens. Neither team scored on the power play with Binghamton being held scoreless in four attempts and Wilkes-Barre failing to score in eight tries.

FRIDAY, MARCH 17TH vs. HERSHEY (3-2 W SO): The B-Sens followed a similar script on Friday night as they beat the Hershey Bears 3-2 in a shootout to continue their climb towards a playoff bid. Once again, Binghamton had to come from behind as the Bears scored the game's first two goals. After more than 35 scoreless minutes of hockey at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena, forward JOEY TENUTE gave Hershey a 1-0 lead with a power-play goal. Hershey scored again on the power play at 6:27 of the final period to build a 2-0 lead. But Binghamton came charging back on back-to-back goals by GRANT POTULNY and DANNY BOIS. In the shootout, CHARLIE STEPHENS and JEFF HEEREMA scored on Binghamton's first two attempts, just like they did on Wednesday, and KELLY GUARD shut down four of Hershey's five shooters to give Binghamton its second straight victory. Binghamton scored on one of seven power plays while Hershey was successful on two of five attempts.

SATURDAY, MARCH 18TH vs. PHILADELPHIA (3-2 W): This time there was no need for late-game heroics from the B-Sens as the home team took a 3-1 lead at 10:40 of the third period on GRANT POTULNY'S second goal of the evening. His first came short-handed, his second short-handed goal of the season, and gave Binghamton the lead for good at 17:26 of the first period. Binghamton got the game's first goal as DENIS HAMEL scored his 200th AHL goal to give Binghamton a 1-0 lead only 27 seconds into the contest. KELLY GUARD was once again sensational in net as he stopped 46 of 48 shots to earn the game's first star. Binghamton did not score in five power-play attempts while Philly connected on one of their eight tries. Goalie MARTIN HOULE made 35 saves on 38 shots for the Phantoms.

SUNDAY, MARCH 19TH @ HERSHEY (4-5 SOL): Both teams scored twice in the second and twice in the third periods on Sunday, but Binghamton could not win another shootout as they were beaten 5-4. The Senators twice battled back from one-goal deficits in the final period and forced overtime when GRANT POTULNY scored at 18th goal of the season and fourth in the last three games at 13:46 of the third period. JEFF HEEREMA had one goal and two assists to lead the Senators, but unlike the two previous shootouts, HEEREMA did not connect on his attempt and Hershey outscored the Sens two to one in the shootout to earn the bonus point. TOMAS FLEISCHMANN and KRIS BEECH each had one goal and one assist to lead the Bears, who clinched a playoff berth with the victory. BILLY THOMPSON made his first start in net for the Senators since Feb. 25 and stopped 34 of 38 shots in the loss. KIRK DAUBENSPECK blocked 35 of 39 shots for Hershey.

THIS WEEK: The Binghamton Senators will host the Albany River Rats on Wednesday and finish a short week on Friday with a game in Syracuse against the Crunch. For the first time since Christmas weekend, the B-Sens will not play on either Friday or Saturday.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22ND vs. ALBANY (7:05 p.m.): The Senators and River Rats have split the four previous games with the last meeting coming almost two months ago in Albany when Binghamton was defeated 4-2 on Jan. 27. Binghamton's all-time record against the River Rats at home is 10-2-2-0-1 (W-L-T-OTL-SOL). DENIS HAMEL leads all players in the season series with nine points (7 goals, 2 assists) in four games. The Sens have outshot the River Rats 63 to 34 during the second period this season.

FRIDAY, MARCH 24TH @ SYRACUSE (7:30 p.m.): Binghamton broke a three-game losing streak to the Crunch with a 4-2 win in Syracuse on March 4. Crunch center MARK HARTIGAN leads all players in the season series with 13 points (4 goals, 9 assists) in six games. Binghamton has outscored Syracuse nine to three during the first period this season, but have been outscored 23 to 11 by the Crunch during the next two periods.

SENS SNIPPETS: With 12 games remaining on the schedule, most of the B-Sens have already posted professional career-high numbers for points including STEVE MARTINS (67), CHARLIE STEPHENS (54), FILIP NOVAK (51), GRANT POTULNY (37), DANNY BOIS (27), TOMAS MALEC (21), JAN PLATIL (14), GREG WATSON (12) & NEIL KOMADOSKI (5). DENIS HAMEL is only one point shy of matching his career high of 79 points set last season and LANCE WARD is also one point shy of tying his career high (20) set during the 1999-00 season with the Louisville Panthers...Binghamton enters the week only eight points behind the fourth place Bridgeport Sound Tigers in the East Division. Bridgeport and Binghamton both have 12 games remaining to be played and will meet two more times, at Bridgeport on April 2 and in Binghamton on April 7...Binghamton has earned points in 10 of its last 12 games (7-2-1-2)...KELLY GUARD on Saturday became the first B-Sens goaltender other than RAY EMERY to win 20 games in a season.

SENS IN THE COMMUNITY: B-Sens defensemen JAN PLATIL and FILIP NOVAK will appear at Newark Valley Elementary School at 86 Whig Street on Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. to discuss health and fitness with students. Also on Tuesday, forwards Charlie Stephens and Joe Cullen will appear at T.J. Watson Elementary School at 263 Ridgefield Rd. in Endicott between 2 and 3 p.m. to read with fourth and fifth grade students.

SENS LEADERS: POINTS: Hamel - 77 (46 + 31) GOALS: Hamel - 46

ASSISTS: Martins - 47 PPG: Hamel - 22

GWG: Hamel - 6 SHG: Hamel, Potulny & Ward - 2

PIM: Ward - 260

WINS: Guard - 20 GAA: Guard - 3.05

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 March 20, 2006


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central