Binghamton Senators weekly

Published on February 26, 2007 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Binghamton Senators News Release


LAST WEEK: The Senators (17-32-2-5, 41 pts.) were 1-3 this past week, including a 3-2 win over first place Manchester on Wednesday night.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21ST vs. MCH (3-2 W):

For the second straight game, the B-Sens defeated a first-place team. With the Monarchs ahead 1-0 off a Marty Murray power-play goal, the B-Sens responded with their own man-advantage marker. Noah Clarke was serving two-two minute minors when Jeff Heerema buried his 26th tally of the year. Josh Hennessy walked the puck down the end line and found a streaking Heerema. Heerema tapped home the centering feed to tie the game at 1 apiece. The B-Sens leading scorer struck again eleven minutes later, this time snapping a wrist shot from the left faceoff circle past Monarchs netminder Jason Labarbera. Defenseman Neil Petruic fed Heerema from the far boards before the winger netted his 27th goal of the year. Manchester was on the power play early in the final period, when the Senators stole the puck deep in their own zone. Center Josh Hennessy advanced on a solo rush, and was taken down from behind by a Manchester defender drawing a penalty shot. Hennessy converted on the penalty shot, giving the B-Sens their second straight game with a successful penalty shot. Marty Murray kept the Monarchs close, as the center netted his second goal of the evening at 7:23 of the third stanza. Manchester was on a 5-on-3 power play, when Murray snapped a wrist shot into a wide-open net from left corner. Netminder Jeff Glass had 18 saves in the third period, while the Senators stayed clear of the penalty box the rest of the game to earn the 3-2 win.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23rd vs. WBS (4-5 L):

The B-Sens meet the Penguins for the third time in February. The Penguins took advantage of an early power play, as winger Joe Jensen buried a one-timer from the slot past netminder Jeff Glass. Just eighteen seconds later, Dennis Bonvie took a centering feed from Stephen Dixon and snapped it past Glass to extend the lead to two goals. The B-Sens answered when Cory Pecker snapped a wrist shot that bounced off the pads of Penguins netminder Jeff Deslauriers and into the possession of Arttu Luttinen. Luttinen scooped it past Deslauriers to get the B-Sens within a goal. Andy Hedlund tied the game early in the second period with his fifth marker of the year. Andrew Ebbett handled the puck around the back of the Penguins cage, passing to Hedlund who one-timed a shot past Deslauriers. With the Penguins holding onto a one-goal lead, center Matt Koalska blocked a Penguin shot and proceeded on a solo rush when he was taken down from behind by a Penguins defenseman. For the second time in a week, Koalska was awarded a penalty shot. Also for the second time in a week, he converted on the shot. Koalska slipped the puck through the five hole to tie the game at 3 apiece. The Penguins twice in the late stages of the second period to take a 5-3 lead into the second intermission. Binghamton battled back yet again, as Mike Sgroi scored his first goal as a Binghamton Senator. Sgroi took a cross-crease pass from Andy Hedlund and tapped it home to bring the Senators within a goal. The Penguins were able to steer clear of the penalty box the rest of the game, and hold on for a 5-4 win. Binghamton took 17 third-period shots. Andy Hedlund had two points (1+1=2) on the night, while Andrew Ebbett extended his assist streak to three games (0+3=3).

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24th vs. WBS (2-4 L):

Binghamton welcomed the Penguins to the Arena for the second straight night. The B-Sens took a 1-0 lead midway through the opening period. Jeff Heerema circled the Penguins goal, passing to a wide-open Neil Petruic. Petruic one-timed a shot from the left post which Heerema deflected past Andrew Penner for his 27th marker of the year. The Penguins responded just twelve second later, as Rob Schremp snapped a wrist shot past netminder Jeff Glass to make it a 1-1 contest. Stephen Dixon gave the Penguins a 2-1 lead off early in the second period, as the center gathered a lose puck in front of the Senators cage and scooped it home. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton then put their top ranked power-play unit on display, scoring two more goals. Kyle Brodziak buried a slap shot from the deep slot. Kurtis McLean followed that up with his own slap shot, bouncing the puck off of Glass's blocker and into the net. Heerema netted his second goal of the night at the 12:41 mark of the third period, but that was as close as the B-Sens would get. Jeff Glass had 35 saves in the loss.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 25th @ HER (2-5 L):

The B-Sens traveled to Hershey for the first time this season. The Bears capitalized on an early hooking call, as Matt Hendricks buried a power-play marker at 4:38 of the opening period. Alexandre Giroux followed that up with an even-strength tally, his 34th of the season, ten minutes later. With one minute remaining in the first, center Matt Koalska buried his 6th goal of the year to get the B-Sens back within one. Josh Hennessy and Charlie Cook assisted on the play. Charlie Cook knotted the game at 2 apiece early in the second period, as the defenseman capped off a two point night. Fellow Cornell grad Ryan Vesce assisted on the Cook tally. Netminder Kelly Guard stopped all 11 shots in the second stanza. Hershey outshot the B-Sens 16-6 in the third period, converting on three of those attempts to take a three-goal lead. Kelly Guard finished the night with 40 saves.

THIS WEEK:

SCOUTING REPORT

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28th @ WBS (7:05):

The B-Sens meet up with divisional foe Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for the fifth and final time in the month of February. The Penguins hold a 5-1 advantage in the season series. Jonathan Filewich leads Wilkes-Barre/Scranton with 43 points (22+21=43), while Daniel Carcillo has 21 markers on the season. Netminder Jeff Deslauriers ranks eighth in the league with a 2.40 goals-against-average. Deslauriers has been between the pipes for four of the five Penguin victories against the Senators. Binghamton defeated Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 6-5 in a shootout back on Nov. 25 at the Arena. Danny Bois (2+1=3) along with Grant Potulny (1+1=2) led the B-Sens comeback charge. Jeff Heerema netted the game-winning shootout marker.

FRIDAY, MARCH 2nd @ PHI (7:05):

The B-Sens travel to Philadelphia to take on the Phantoms for the first time in six weeks, with Binghamton still looking for a win against the Phantoms this season. The two teams meet twice in January, with the Phantoms hanging on for wins of 4-2 and 3-2. Matt Ellison leads the Phantoms with 30 points (7+23=30), while Niko Dimitrakos leads the club with 15 markers (15+13=28). Both netminders, Martin Houle and Scott Munroe, have nine wins this season. Munroe has a 2.88 goals-against-average.

SATURDAY, MARCH 3rd @ HER (7:00):

Binghamton travels to Hershey to take on the defending champions for the second time in six days. The Bears are led by All-Star center Alexandre Giroux, who leads the club with 34 goals and 54 points. His 34 markers rank second in the AHL (Brett Sterling - 44). Dave Steckel has 42 points (21+21=42), and Joey Tenute is atop the clubs assist leaderboard with 24. Maxime Daigneault has a 15-4-0-0 record for the Bears. The rookie netminder also has a 2.62 goals-against-average and a 0.912 save percentage.

SUNDAY, MARCH 4th vs. ALBANY (5:05):

The B-Sens have a 2-1 advantage over the River Rats this season, including a 6-5 win in Albany on Friday, Feb. 2. Netminder Kelly Guard had 42 saves as the B-Sens shutout the River Rats 4-0 at the Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 15. Albany is led by All-Star Keith Aucoin, who's 17 goals, 45 assists and 62 points are tops for the River Rats. Matt Murley (14+20=34) has nine power-play markers on the season. Rookie netminder Tyler Weiman leads the Rats with 17 wins and a 3.01 goals-against-average.

SENS PRATICE SCHEDULE:

Mon. Feb. 26 - Off

Tue. Feb. 27 - Chenango Ice Rink (Polar Cap) 10 - 12

Wed. Feb. 28 - Chenango Ice Rink (Polar Cap) 8:30 - 9:30

Thu. Mar. 1 - Chenango Ice Rink (Polar Cap) 10 - 12

Fri. Mar. 2 - Away - no practice

Sat. Mar. 3 - Away - no practice

SENS SNIPPETS:

After going four and half season without converting on a penalty shot, the Binghamton Senators have scored on four penalty shots in the month of February. Andrew Ebbett scored the first penalty shot in B-Sens history on Friday, Feb. 2 against Albany. Matt Koalska followed on Saturday, Feb. 17 against Norfolk. All-Star center Josh Hennessy made it two straight games with a successful penalty shot on Wednesday, Feb. 21 against Manchester. Koalska added his second penalty shot this past Friday against the Penguins. The teams penalty shot streak was snapped on Saturday night. The Senators are now 4 out of 11 on penalty shots with their recent success. Jeff Heerema needs four goals to tie his AHL career-high of 33, which he tallied during the 2001-02 season as a member of the Lowell Lock Monsters.

SENS LEADERS:

POINTS: HEEREMA (29+19=48), HENNESSY (22+21=43), EBBETT (12+28=40)

GOALS: HEEREMA (29), HENNESSY (22), EBBETT & PECKER (12)

ASSISTS: EBBETT (28), VESCE (25), HEDLUND & HENNESSY (21)

PPG: HEEREMA (9), HENNESSY & VESCE (7)

SHG: EBBETT & HENNESSY (4)

GWG: HENNESSY (4), HEEREMA (3)

WINS: GUARD (9)

GAA: GUARD (3.43)

BSENS ON THE AIR: Catch all the action LIVE on Q107 FM, via webcast or B2 Networks streaming video cast at www.binghamtonsenators.com

GET YOUR TICKETS: Tickets are currently on sale for all regular season home games. Tickets cost $16 for side seating and $15 for end seating. Fans can purchase tickets at the following locations: Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena box office (Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 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.

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American Hockey League Stories from February 26, 2007


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