Hamel's late heroics lift Binghamton to second straight victory

Published on November 12, 2005 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Binghamton Senators News Release


BINGHAMTON, NY - Binghamton forward Denis Hamel scored in the last minute of regulation for the second consecutive game to send the fans home happy with a 5-4 shootout victory against their East Division rival, the Philadelphia Phantoms.

Binghamton got on the board first Saturday night thanks to a Steve Martins tally, coming just 5:20 after the opening faceoff. The lead was short lived, however, as Philadelphia's Alexandre Picard picked up his third goal of the season to tie the score 1-1 at 8:14 of the first period.

After skating the rest of the first period scoreless, rookie Patrick Eaves recorded his second goal in a Binghamton sweater at the 6:11 mark of the second, giving his club the 2-1 lead. Once again the Phantoms were right there to answer the call and Binghamton's lead lasted only 44 seconds before Philly's Dan Cavanaugh tied the game at two goals a side.

The teams continued to trade goal-for-goal and at 11:19 of the middle period when Denis Hamel notched his sixth goal of the year by sliding the puck past Phantoms goaltender Rejean Beauchemin on a breakaway before barreling into the goal and knocking it loose from its moorings. After a brief discussion between the referee and goal judge, Hamel was awarded his sixth goal of the season and the B-Sens took a 3-2 lead heading into the dressing room after forty minutes of play.

Phantoms enforcer Josh Gratton tied the game at three as he picked up his first goal of the season at the 4:16 mark of the third. Thirteen minutes later, the Phantoms took their first lead of the game when Brent Kelly picked his first of the year as well and gave the 4-3 edge to his team with a little more than two minutes remaining in regulation.

Then, with Philadelphia's Charlie Cook and B.J. Abel each in the penalty box, Binghamton found themselves with a 5-on-3 advantage. As the clock ticked down towards all zeros, Hamel once again emerged as the hero of the day. With Kelly Guard pulled in favor of a sixth attacker, Hamel's second tally of the night tied the score with 32 seconds left and sent the game into overtime.

After a scoreless extra session that saw the Sens called for two penalties, the contest headed into a shootout. It took only four of the five shooters to clinch the game for Binghamton. The Sens got consecutive goals from Filip Novak, Jeff Heerema, Denis Hamel, and Patrick Eaves' shootout goal sealed the deal for Binghamton.

Sens goalie Kelly Guard stopped 23 of 27 offerings to earn his second win of the season. Beauchemin made 33 saves on 37 shots while taking his fifth consecutive loss.

Binghamton closed out the night three for six on the power play, while Philly picked up three goals on their seven opportunities.

The B-Sens will head south immediately following the game for the second contest of this home-and-home series with the Phantoms. Sunday's game is scheduled for 5:05p.m. at the Wachovia Spectrum and can be heard on 680 WINR-AM or via webcast by following the link to the B2 Networks on www.binghamtonsenators.com.

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American Hockey League Stories from November 12, 2005


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