Senators Clinch Cader Cup Playoff Berth In 2-1 Overtime Win Against Norfolk
April 6, 2011 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Binghamton Senators News Release
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. - Despite leading for much of Sunday's game against the Albany Devils, the Binghamton Senators were unable to obtain the result they were looking for to clinch a Calder Cup playoff berth, though they did walk away with a point in the eventual shootout loss. So when the B-Sens took to the ice on Wednesday night, hosting the playoff-bound Norfolk Admirals, they once again had a chance to control their own fate, needing only a point to lock up a crossover playoff spot.
The B-Sens went an extra step, improving to 41-29-3-5 on the season, with a 2-1 overtime victory courtesy of Jim O'Brien. Barry Brust made 30 saves to improve to 29-18-2 on the season and earn first star honors. With the win the B-Sens clinched their first Calder Cup playoff berth since the 2004-05 season.
Though the B-Sens were without leading point man Corey Locke due to injury, Binghamton received some assistance from the parent Senators as Ottawa sent down five players earlier in the day to help make their playoff hopes a reality; Andre Benoit, Erik Condra, David Hale, Roman Wick and Patrick Wiercioch.
The recently recalled B-Sens made their presence felt quickly as Benoit got things going for Binghamton with a power play goal in the first. With 8:14 left to play in the opening frame, Kaspars Daugavins collected the puck along the right boards and sent a cross-ice pass over to Benoit, who slapped a one-timer past the stick side of Admirals netminder Jaroslav Janus.
The B-Sens controlled the puck for much of the second period and just when a Binghamton goal seemed imminent, Norfolk caught a break with a scoring opportunity of their own. The Admirals tied the game 1-1 late in that period as Mattias Ritola carried the puck through the neutral zone, feeding it to Blair Jones who was streaking along the right wing boards. Jones flipped the puck back to Ritola in the slot, who then backhand a shot over the left shoulder of Brust at 16:01.
Despite outshooting the Admirals 14 to 7 in the third period, the B-Sens failed to score another goal in regulation as Janus stood tall for Norfolk. Janus stopped 42 of 44 shots faced in the match, including 30 shots in the final two periods to help force overtime.
The B-Sens won the game at 3:48 of extra time as Condra's pass from the left circle found O'Brien in the slot. O'Brien then beat a diving Janus for his 24th goal of the season, leading the B-Sens the 2-1 victory.
The B-Sens are back in action Friday as they travel to Rochester to take on the Amerks in a 7:30 p.m. tilt. Fans can listen live on 680 WINR-AM or 1430 WENE-AM beginning 30 minutes before game time for Countdown to Faceoff with Grady Whittenburg, the voice of the B-Sens.
American Hockey League Stories from April 6, 2011
- Admirals Set First Two Playoff Dates - Milwaukee Admirals
- Senators Clinch Cader Cup Playoff Berth In 2-1 Overtime Win Against Norfolk - Binghamton Senators
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- Pearce Backstops Griffins To 2-1 Victory - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Bruins Assign Steven Kampfer To Providence - Providence Bruins
- Monsters Too Much For Marlies Again - Cleveland Monsters
- Monarchs Rebuked With Luke's Fluke - Manchester Monarchs
- Phantoms Time Warner Cable Cup Champs - Adirondack Phantoms
- Peoria Beats Texas 3-2 - Texas Stars
- Admirals Fall to Senators in Overtime - Norfolk Admirals
- Devils Fall Despite McKenna's Effort - Albany Devils
- Pirates Power Past Monarchs - Portland Pirates
- P-Bruins Sign Three to Tryouts - Providence Bruins
- Awards Season, Fan Appreciation Night, Playoff Information Announced - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Pirates Sign Baier - Portland Pirates
- Sound Tigers Host St. Baldrick's Event Prior to Season Finale - Bridgeport Islanders
- Leighton Clears Waivers; Two Return - Adirondack Phantoms
- Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's John Hynes Named Ameican Hockey League's Outstanding Coach - AHL
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- Machacek Named Wolves 2010-11 Dan Snyder Man of the Year - Chicago Wolves
- Moose End Season with First Place Showdown, Fan Appreciation & Local Singing Sensation - Manitoba Moose
- Tickets Available Now for Monsters First-Ever Playoff Appearance - Cleveland Monsters
- Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's John Hynes Named Ameican Hockey League's Outstanding Coach - AHL
- Whale Sign Defenseman Dylan McIlrath to ATO - Connecticut Whale
- Sound Tigers Ink Cameron Wind to Ato - Bridgeport Islanders
- Cody Bass Named Winner of Yanick Dupré Memorial Award as AHL's Man of the Year - Binghamton Senators
- Cody Bass Named Winner of AHL's Yanick Dupre Memorial Award - AHL
- Panthers Recall Kennedy from Rochester; Assign Plante to Amerks - Rochester Americans
- Gameday Preview - Texas at Peoria - Texas Stars
- Pirates Sign Muse - Portland Pirates
- Blackhawks Recall Ben Smith from Rockford - Rockford IceHogs
- Texas Stars Add First Round Pick Scott Glennie - Texas Stars
- Thousands of Prizes Given Away at Saturday's Fan Appreciation Night - Rockford IceHogs
- Brennan Returns to Wolves - Chicago Wolves
- AHL Quick Hits - AHL
- Senators Re-Assign Five Players to Binghamton - Binghamton Senators
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