Sens Still Alive For Playoff Spot Entering Final Week

Published on April 8, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Binghamton Senators News Release


LAST WEEK: The B-Sens (34-30-8-5, 81 pts.) were 1-2-0-0 in three games this past week, with their lone victory coming against division rival Hershey on Friday night. Binghamton opened the week on the road against the Syracuse Crunch, the hottest team in the AHL, on Wednesday night and suffered a 4-1 loss. The B-Sens dropped a non-division game on Saturday night against the Springfield Falcons.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2nd @ SYRACUSE (1-4 L): B-Sens rookie Alexander Nikulin netted the lone goal for Binghamton, his 14th of the season. Scott May extended his point streak to five games (3+4=7) with an assist on the goal. Defenseman Andrei Piekhanov scored two goals to push the Syracuse Crunch to a 4-1 win over the B-Sens. Netminder Brian Elliott was forced to leave the game with a knee injury in the closing minutes of the second period.

FRIDAY, APRIL 4th vs. HERSHEY (3-2 W): Alexander Nikulin assisted on both of the B-Sens goals in regulation, and then sealed the victory with a shootout goal. Netminder Jeff Glass turned away 27 shots in regulation and overtime before stopping all four shootout attempts by the Bears. Niko Dimitrakos buried a shootout marker for Binghamton, tying him for the league lead with eight on the season. Scott May extended his scoring streak to six games (4+4=8) and now has 10 points in the nine games since he returned from injury.

SATURDAY, APRIL 5th SPRINGFIELD (2-5 L): The B-Sens were held in-check by the Falcons on Saturday night. The Falcons fired a season-high 51 shots at the B-Sens. Winger Greg Mauldin buried a shorthanded marker for the B-Sens, giving them a league-leading 21 on the season. Josh Hennessy put a wrist shot past Deslauriers for the B-Sens other goal. Netminder Jeff Glass had 46 saves on the night, a new career-high.

THIS WEEK: The B-Sens enter the final week of the regular season still in striking distance of a playoff spot. The Norfolk Admirals are the B-Sens final home game of the 2007-08 season on Friday night. The B-Sens cap the regular season with two big road contests, the first on Saturday night against the Syracuse Crunch and the season-finale in Hershey against the Bears on Sunday. The final game against the Bears could decide which team will represent the East Division in the fourth and final playoff spot.

FRIDAY, APRIL 11th vs. NORFOLK (7:05): The B-Sens are 4-2-0-1 this year against the Admirals (27-43-2-5, 61 pts.). The two clubs last got together on Feb. 9, a 3-2 win by the B-Sens. Defenseman Lawrence Nycholat had two assists in that game, while fellow blueliner Brian Lee buried the game-winning goal. Denis Hamel has collected four of his 31 goals against the Admirals. The B-Sens must contain winger Kyle Wanvig, who has 12 points (4+8=12) in seven games against Binghamton this season.

SATURDAY, APRIL 12th @ SYRACUSE (7:30): The Syracuse Crunch (42-26-2-6, 92 pts.) has three straight wins over the B-Sens, this after the B-Sens took three straight in the series early in the season. Syracuse is without question the hottest team in the AHL heading into post-season play. The Crunch has points in the last 19 games, while winning the last 10. Alexander Nikulin has nine points (3+6=9) in six games against the Crunch this year. Syracuse captain Zenon Konopka has tormented the B-Sens with six goals in just four games. Syracuse has six skaters over the 40-point mark, with Konopka (22+29=51) and Joakim Lindstrom (23+31=54) leading the way.

SUNDAY, APRIL 13th @ HERSHEY (5:00): It's only fitting that the final game of the regular season is against the Bears (39-30-2-6, 86 pts.) in Hershey. The B-Sens have struggled against the Bears this season, going 2-2-2-1 thus far. Winger Niko Dimitrakos has buried four of his 19 goals against the Bears. Recently recalled defenseman Brian Lee averaged an assist per-game against the Bears this season, collecting six helpers in six games. Kyle Wilson has five goals and four assists against Binghamton this season.

SENS SNIPPETS: Scott May was held scoreless in the B-Sens 5-2 loss to Springfield on Saturday night, ending his point streak at six games (4+4=8). Jeff Glass set a new career-high with 46 saves against the Falcons. Center Justin Mapletoft needs two points to tie his career high of 39, set in 2002-03 when he skated for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Fellow winger Greg Mauldin needs two assists to tie his career high of 20, a mark which he set during the 2004-05 season while with Syracuse. Josh Hennessy needs three assists to reach 100 for his AHL career.

SENS TRANSACTIONS: The B-Sens signed goaltender Joel Martin to a professional tryout contract (PTO) on Friday (4/4/08). The B-Sens released Martin from his PTO on Saturday (4/5/08). The B-Sens signed goaltender David Leggio to an amateur tryout contract (ATO) on Saturday.

SENS IN THE COMMUNITY: Denis Hamel and a group of B-Sens players will be at Laurel Bowl, 137 Laurel Avenue, Binghamton, on Wednesday night to participate in a Bowl-A-Thon to benefit A Room to Heal, Inc. The event is from 7-10 p.m. $10 includes bowling, shoes, pizza and soda. A raffle will be held with all proceeds going to A Room to Heal, Inc.

SENS LEADERS:

POINTS: HAMEL (31+23=54)

GOALS: HAMEL (31), HENNESSY (21)

ASSISTS: NYCHOLAT (37), NIKULIN (36)

PPG: HAMEL (14), NYCHOLAT (8)

SHG: MAPLETOFT (8), HAMEL (4)

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

WINS: ELLIOTT (18)

GAA: ELLIOTT (2.81)

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 April 8, 2008


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