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Late goal earns Senators a tie

April 7, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Binghamton Senators News Release


Serge Payer's 14th goal of the year, a power play marker with 2:05 left in the third period, lifted the Binghamton Senators to a 2-2 overtime tie Wednesday night in front 8,322 fans at Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza.

The tying goal was set up by a double minor handed out to Marquis Mathieu for butt-ending the Sens' Cory Pecker at the 16:18 mark of the third period.

Payer tucked a close range shot under the cross bar behind Penguin netminder Sebastien Caron (15 saves) at 17:55 to send the contest overtime.

Binghamton took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission break on Charlie Stephens' 19th goal of the season (his 14th with the Senators) as he banged a rebound past Caron at 19:45 of the opening period.

Pecker made the play as he sent a crossing pass out of the right wing corner, with both Stephens and rookie Grant Potulny breaking to the net, and Caron trying to regain his position between the pipes after failing to control the puck behind his own net.

Potulny got a piece of the feed forcing Caron to make the first save, but Caron could not counter Stephens, who shoved the second rebound into the Penguins net. Making his professional debut with the Sens, the assist for Potulny was his first pro point.

Binghamton, playing without injured leading scorer Denis Hamel and suspended winger Brad Tapper, made that 1-0 lead hold up through the first thirty-six minutes before the Penguins struck for back-to-back strikes to take its only lead of the night.

Patrick Boileau wired a shot past a screened Ray Emery (35 saves) at 13:19 of the second period to tie the game at one on feeds from Konstantin Koltsov and Toby Petersen.

A defensive lapse then left Eric Meloche unchecked in the deep slot with 1:41 to go in the period as Petersen placed a perfect centering feed on his stick. Meloche snapped a point blank shot past the stick hand of Emery to put the Penguins on top 2-1.

The Sens were outshot on the night 37-17, but did their damage on the power play in going 2x6 and killing off all four Penguins man-up chances.

With the point, Binghamton moved to within two points of clinching a playoff berth with two games remaining. The Sens (79 points) picked up a point on idle Norfolk (77 points) in fifth place and are three points up on sixth place Hershey (76 points), 4-2 winners in Albany.

After posting a 2-1-1 mark in wrapping up a four-game road trip, Binghamton now returns to the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena for two contests to close out the regular season.

Friday, it's ICS/Manley's Mighty Mart CheerStix Night when the Norfolk Admirals come to town for a 7:05 faceoff. Following the game, the team will participate in the Annual Awards Ceremony.

Saturday, the Rochester Americans battle the Senators at 7:05 p.m. on Fan Appreciation Night. Prior to the game, the Sens will hold a block party outside on the Stuart Street side of the Arena from 4-6 p.m.

When the doors open at 6 p.m, the Binghamton Mets baseball team will be on hand to meet and greet with fans throughout the night.

During the game, fans will be eligible to win numerous prizes donated by local businesses and the evening will be capped off after the game with the Jack Sherman Toyota Lucky Key Contest.

Tickets for both of this weekend's contest are still available (950 – Norfolk, 375 – Rochester) and can be purchased at all Ticketmaster outlets, the Center Ice Team Shop at Metrocenter, the Arena box office, the Sens' executive offices – 3rd floor of the Arena, or by calling the Sens' Hotline at 722-SENS (7367).

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