Sens Continue Playoff Push

Published on March 24, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Binghamton Senators News Release


LAST WEEK: The B-Sens (32-27-8-4, 76 pts.) took three of four points this past week as they continue their push for a Calder Cup playoff spot. The B-Sens battled the Eastern Conference's best team, the Providence Bruins, into overtime on Friday night to secure a point. Binghamton then routed Rochester on Saturday night with seven goals.

FRIDAY, MARCH 21st vs. PROVIDENCE (2-3 OTL): The Bruins jumped out to a 2-0 lead with markers from Pascal Pelletier and Matt Hendricks before the B-Sens fired one past netminder Tuukka Rask. Josh Hennessy scooped up a loose puck from a Denis Hamel shot and tapped it home for the B-Sens first goal. Defenseman Lawrence Nycholat buried a one-timer five hole on Rask to tie the game at 2 apiece late in the second period. The netminders took over in the third period, combining for 19 saves to send the game into sudden death. Pelletier netted the game-winner just 16 second into the overtime session. Binghamton took three of four points against the first-place Bruins this season.

SATURDAY, MARCH 22nd vs. ROCHESTER (7-4 W): The B-Sens came out firing on all cylinders Saturday night against the Amerks, opening up a 3-0 lead in the first 5:40. Winger Niko Dimitrakos tapped a loose puck past netminder Tyler Plante only 32 seconds into the opening stanza. Josh Hennessy followed with a snap shot from the mid slot and then Nick Foligno buried a wrist shot as he and Alexander Nikulin advanced on a two-on-one rush. Dimitrakos closed out the first-period scoring with a power-play tally to give the B-Sens a 4-0 advantage. Rochester battled back in the second period, scoring three goals in a five minute span before Nikulin connected for the eventual game-winner. Scott May capped the scoring for Binghamton with two third-period markers. The seven goals scored by the B-Sens were their second highest goal total in a game this season.

THIS WEEK: The B-Sens return to home ice on Wednesday when they host the defending Calder Cup champion Hamilton Bulldogs at 7:05 p.m. The Bulldogs come to the Southern Tier riding a franchise-high nine game losing streak. The B-Sens head to Philadelphia on Friday night for the eighth and final regular season game against the Phantoms. After a break on Saturday, the B-Sens head to Rochester to looking for their eighth win of the year against the Amerks.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26th vs. HAMILTON (7:05): The B-Sens seek their first win over the North Division's Bulldogs. Hamilton (31-30-3-5, 70 pts. - 4th North) took the first two games in regulation before notching a 3-2 overtime win on Jan. 9, the last game between the two teams. Winger Matt D'Agostini has three goals against the B-Sens this season, including two game-winners. Center Corey Locke has four points (1+3=4) in two games against Binghamton this year.

FRIDAY, MARCH 28th @ PHILADELPHIA (7:05): The B-Sens have won their last two games against the Phantoms. Philadelphia (41-24-3-3, 88 pts. - 1st East) is 3-6-1-0 over the last ten games. Winger Niko Dimitrakos has five points (2+3=5) in four games against his former team this season. Rookies Alexander Nikulin and Shawn Weller each have three goals against the Phantoms this year, while netminder Jeff Glass is 2-0-0-1 between the pipes.

SUNDAY, MARCH 30th @ ROCHESTER (6:05): The B-Sens enter Sunday night's game against Rochester a perfect 7-0-0-0 and seek their first eight-game sweep in franchise history. Binghamton is averaging more than four goals per game against Rochester. Rochester (20-39-6-4, 50 pts. - 7th North) is 13-14-3-3 at the Blue Cross Arena this season. Defenseman Lawrence Nycholat has 10 points (2+8=10) and a plus-7 rating in seven games against Rochester this season.

SENS SNIPPETS: Two of three games for the B-Sens this week are against North Division opponents, which they are 11-6-3-0 this season. The B-Sens are a perfect 11-0-0-0 when they score four goals in a game. The B-Sens have scored four goals in one period in four different games this season; the most recent was against Rochester on Saturday night.

Josh Hennessy (3+1=4) and Lawrence Nycholat (1+3=4) each have a four-game point streak. Nick Foligno has collected points (1+2=3) in his first two games since being assigned from Ottawa.

Forward Scott May set a new career-high with two goals and three points in the B-Sens 7-4 with over the Amerks on Saturday night. Niko Dimitrakos (18) and Justin Mapletoft (16) have set career-highs in goals.

Hennessy continues to climb the B-Sens' all-time lists with another goal Saturday night. He now has 46 goals as a Binghamton Senator, good for eighth all-time.

SENS TRANSACTIONS: Right wing Tyler Donati was loaned to Elmira (ECHL) on Monday. Right wing Jim McKenzie was reassigned by Ottawa (NHL) to Elmira (ECHL) on Monday.

SENS LEADERS:

POINTS: HAMEL (30+21=51)

GOALS: HAMEL (30), HENNESSY (19)

ASSISTS: NYCHOLAT (35), NIKULIN (32)

PPG: HAMEL (14), NYCHOLAT (8)

SHG: MAPLETOFT (7), HAMEL (3)

GWG: HAMEL (5), HENNESSY & MAULDIN (3)

WINS: ELLIOTT (17)

GAA: GLASS (2.80)

SENS ON THE AIR: Catch all the action LIVE on WINR 680-AM & WENE 1430-AM, via webcast or B2 Networks streaming video cast at www.binghamtonsenators.com

2008-09 SEASON TICKETS: 2008-09 season tickets are on sale. Please call the Binghamton Senators' executive office at (607) 722-SENS for information on ticket packages.

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American Hockey League Stories from March 24, 2008


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