LAST WEEK…
Friday, March 23: Binghamton 4, Rochester 3
Shots: Binghamton 37, Rochester 28
PP: Binghamton 1 for 5, Rochester 0 for 3
The Binghamton Senators traveled to Rochester on Friday night to face the Americans for the eighth and final time this season. B-Sens blueliner Eric Gryba scored the game winner in overtime to send Binghamton home with the 4-3 win.
The B-Sens struck first, scoring a pair of goals in the opening four minutes of play. David Dziurzynski took advantage of an early power play scoring at 2:18 off a feed from Jack Downing. Just 1:27 later Mike Hoffman scored to put the B-Sens ahead, 2-0.
The Amerks bounced back in the second half of the opening period to tie the game up. Maxime Legault bounced a puck in off the pads of Robin Lehner at the 13:16 mark to bring the Amerks within one. With just shy of a minute remaining in the same period Colin Stuart scored a shorthanded tally to knot the game at two.
The Amerks claimed a 3-2 lead at 16:25 of the second period as Stuart nudge a rebound past the goal line for his second of the night. Dan Henningson would answer for the B-Sens, tying the game up at three with just 3.9 seconds left in the period. Downing earned the primary assist on the goal, his second of the night.
Neither team was able to break the tie in the third period. In overtime Gryba struck just 34 seconds in as his quick wrist shot found its way past David Leggio.
Lehner stopped 25 of the 28 shots he faced to earn his second straight win and improve to 11-19-1 on the season. Leggio made 33 saves as he fell to 23-18-2.
Sunday, March 25: Binghamton 4, Adirondack 5
Shots: Binghamton 37, Adirondack 37
PP: Binghamton 1 for 4, Adirondack 1 for 1
Following a rare Saturday off, the B-Sens were back in action on Sunday as they travelled to Glens Falls to take on the Adirondack Phantoms in a matinee. Former Binghamton captain Denis Hamel and Matt Ford each scored a pair of goals to lead the Phantoms to a 5-4 win.
The B-Sens got off to a good start in the game as captain Mark Parrish scored at 5:47 of the first from Patrick Wiercioch and Mark Borowiecki. The Phantoms however took advantage of an early power play to tie the game at one. Harry Zolnierczyk put one past B-Sens starting netminder Robin Lehner at 8:46. Lehner stopped the initial two shots but the B-Sens were unable to clear the puck and Zolnierczyk put it home.
The second period was all Adirondack, as the Phantoms scored three goals to take a commanding 4-1 lead over the B-Sens. Ford scored at 6:28 of the middle frame to give the Phantoms their first lead of the day. Hamel then scored two goals in the second half of the period just 2:54 apart to give the Phantoms some cushion heading into the third period.
Mike McKenna entered the game in relief of Lehner for the third period of play after Lehner allowed four goals on 28 shots.
The Phantoms stretched their lead to 5-1 as Binghamton allowed their 14th shorthanded goal of the year. Ford scored his second goal of the game shorthanded at 5:24 into the third period.
The B-Sens came alive late in the third period as they scored three goals to cut the Phantoms lead to one. Andre Petersson scored his team leading 22nd goal at 10:23 to start the comeback attempt. Wiercioch scored on the power play at 16:46 to make it a 5-3 game. With less than a minute left in the game Mike Hoffman cut the lead to one, but did not leave enough time for B-Sens to pick up the game tying goal.
McKenna stopped eight of the nine shots he faced, taking the loss to fall to 14-19-1 on the year. Michael Leighton turned aside 33 of Binghamton’s 37 shots to earn the win and improve to 24-23-0 on the season.
Wednesday, March 28: Hershey 5, Binghamton 2
Shots: Hershey 32, Binghamton 37
PP: Hershey 3 for 6, Binghamton 0 for 5
The B-Sens welcomed the Hershey Bears to town on Wednesday night for the final time in the 2011-12 season. The Bears would top the B-Sens 5-2 to win three of their four games in Binghamton this season.
Chris Bourque had a four point game, scoring the game winning goal and adding three assists and Mike Carman also scored a pair of goals for the visiting Bears.
The B-Sens got on the board first as Stephane Da Costa potted his 12th goal of the season at 5:28 of the first off a feed from Patrick Wiercioch.
Carman tied the game at one at the 14:51 mark of the period, then Tomas Kundratek capitalized on a power play with ten seconds remaining in the opening frame to give the Bears a 2-1 edge going into the first intermission.
The Bears stretched that lead to 4-1 with a pair of power play goals in the opening minutes of the second period. Bourque struck with the man advantage just 34 seconds into the period then former Binghamton Senator Ryan Potulny added a power play tally of his own at 3:33.
Andre Petersson cut the Bears’ lead to two-goals just 16 seconds later as he beat Dany Sabourin to make it 4-2.
Carman reclaimed the three-goal lead for Hershey with his second of the night at 13:59 of the period, a lead that would hold steady the remainder of the game.
Mike McKenna started in goal for Binghamton, stopping 13 of the 17 shots he faced in the 25:09 he played. McKenna would take the loss, falling to 14-20-1 on the season. Robin Lehner came into the game in the second period in relief and stopped 14 of 15 shots through the game’s final two periods.
At the other end of the rink, Dany Sabourin stopped 35 of 37 Binghamton shots to help the Bears to their seventh consecutive win and improve to 18-9-4 of the season.
Record:27-37-3-2
Standings: The B-Sens are fifth place in the East Division (59 points).
THIS WEEK…
Saturday, March 31 vs. Syracuse Crunch (Anaheim Ducks) – 7:05 p.m.
Wednesday, April 4 vs. Syracuse Crunch – 7 p.m.
Saturday night the B-Sens will welcome the Syracuse Crunch to the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena for the fourth and final time of the season. The B-Sens will return the favor, making their final trip to the OnCenter on Wednesday. The teams last met on March 2 in Syracuse, a game in which the B-Sens scored four first period goals en route to a 5-2 win.
Heading into their game against the Adirondack Phantoms tonight, the Crunch hold a record of 32-27-4-5 with 73 points, ranking them fourth overall in the East Division. The Crunch also now have points in eight straight games (7-0-0-1).
Forward Patrick Maroon leads the Crunch in assists (40), points (69) and plus-minus (+17).
Promotions: Saturday will be the busiest promotional date of the season for the B-Sens as they host Parrot Head Beach Party Night and the second annual Boy Scout Extravaganza. Additionally the Broome Sports Foundation will award their 2012 scholarships to nine local students in a special pregame ceremony. Visit the news archives at www.binghamtonsenators.com for more details on these great events!
Sunday, April 1 @ Hershey Bears (Washington Capitals) – 5 p.m.
Sunday afternoon the B-Sens will travel to Hershey to close out their eight game season series against the Bears. The B-Sens enter the game seeking only their second win against the Bears this season after going 1-6-0-0 against the division rivals in previous match-ups.
The Bears will enter the weekend with a record of 38-20-4-6 and 86 points, ranking them third overall in the East Division.
With their 5-2 victory against the B-Sens on Wednesday night, the Bears are now winners of seven straight games.
Forward Chris Bourque, who put up four points against the B-Sens on Wednesday, continues to lead the Bears in shorthanded goals (5), assists (62) and points (88). The forward’s 88 points place him first overall in the AHL in scoring – that’s 16 points ahead of Norfolk’s Corey Conacher, who ranks second overall in scoring with 72 points (34+38=72).
Fans can listen to Sunday’s games live on “Binghamton’s Classic Hits” BIG 107.5 (WBBI-FM). Voice of the B-Sens, Grady Whittenburg will have the call beginning 30 minutes before game time as he hosts the Countdown to Faceoff.
SENS SNIPPETS…
Forward Pat Cannone enters the weekend holding the longest active point streak among his B-Sens’ teammates. Cannone has recorded five points (two goals, three assists) in his last four games. The Bayport, N.Y. native has 17 goals and 23 assists for 40 points in 69 games this season and is tied for the team lead in game winning goals with four.
B-SENS BRINGING IT HOME TO THE COMMUNITY…
The Binghamton Senators partnership with Dickin Memorial Animal Hospital in Johnson City for “Paws for Cause” continues. 2012 Paws for Cause calendars and Paws for Cause t-shirts are now only $10. 100% of the proceeds from the sales will benefit the Broome County Humane Society and Project P.A.W.
The limited edition calendars and t-shirts can be purchased at the Paws for Cause table on Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena concourse for all upcoming B-Sens home games, at Dickin Memorial Animal Hospital (716 Harry L Drive, Johnson City) and the Broome County Humane Society (2 Jackson Street, Binghamton) while supplies last.
For more information on Paws for Cause, please visit www.binghamtonsenators.com.
PRACTICE SCHEDULE (Times are subject to change) …
Saturday, March 31
10 a.m. practice - Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena
7:05 p.m. game vs. Syracuse Crunch
Sunday, April 1
11:30 a.m - Bus departs for Hershey
5 p.m. game @ Hershey Bears
Giant Center, 950 West Hershey Park Drive, Hershey, P.A.
Monday, April 2
DAY OFF
Tuesday, April 3
10:15 a.m. practice- Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena
Wednesday, April 4
10 a.m. practice – Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena
3:45 p.m. – Bus departs for Syracuse
7 p.m. game @ Syracuse Crunch
War Memorial Arena at Oncenter, 800 South State Street, Syracuse, N.Y.
Thursday, April 5
TRAVEL DAY
Friday, April 6
7:30 p.m. game @ Norfolk Admirals
Norfolk Scope Arena, 215 East Brambleton Avenue, Norfolk, V.A.
-Go B-Sens Go-
