Binghamton Senators

Race For Final Three Berths Heats Up
Weekly Release - March 16^thLAST WEEK: The Sens (30-30-7-2) have 69 points in sixth place of the East Division of the Eastern Conference. Binghamton is one point behind fifth place Hershey in the race for the final playoff berth in the division while only two points separate the Sens from third place Wilkes-Barre and Norfolk. The Senators went 2-1-1 last week.

WEDNESDAY, MAR. 10^thvs. ROCHESTER (1-0 W): The Sens took their third straight game as GREG WATSON notched the night’s only goal with 2:44 left in the opening period and Star of the Game BILLY THOMPSON stopped all 39 shots for his second career shutout. THOMPSON was at his best in the first period when he held the Amerks at bay as they outshot the Sens 19-12. DENIS HAMEL was stopped by RYAN MILLER at 8:44 of the first period on the third penalty shot in franchise history. The win moved the Sens’ all-time home record against Rochester to 5-0-1.
Game Recap
Shots: 39-24 ROC
PP: BNG 0x7   ROC 0x6
PIM: BNG 6x15   ROC 7x14

FRIDAY, MAR. 12^th @ ROCHESTER (3-5 L): CHRIS TAYLOR’s goal :16 into the final period gave the Amerks a 4-1 lead and proved to be the game-winner in Friday’s rematch. DENIS HAMEL led the Sens with a pair of assists and BRIAN McGRATTAN became the single season penalty minute leader with 316, breaking the mark of 311 set last year by current Hershey Bear DENNIS BONVIE. McGRATTAN’s 30 minutes Friday were part of 103 minutes combined that were whistled down a the first period that featured four ejections.
Shots: 46-27
PP: BNG 0x5   ROC 1x9
PIM: BNG 20x100   ROC 11x39

SATURDAY, MAR. 13^th @ WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON (4-4 ot T): Binghamton coughed up a 4-1 lead it had built up just 3:49 into the second period and held on for an overtime tie. CHARLIE STEPHENS has two goals, but it was SHANE ENDICOTT’s shot through traffic that tied the game at 4-4 and completed the Pens’ comeback with just 2:46 left in regulation.
Shots: 42-17 WBS
PP: BNG 0x4   WBS 2x7
PIM: BNG 8x16   WBS 5x10

SUNDAY, MAR. 14^th @ ALBANY (5-4 ot w): PETER SMREK netted the game-winner 1:43 into overtime for Binghamton’s only lead of the night as the Sens fought off the Rats. JULIEN VAUCLAIR assisted on the game-winner for his fourth point of the night to tie a franchise mark. The Sens battled back from two separate two-goal deficits in the first period in mounting the comeback win. DENIS HAMEL picked up a goal and an assist to hit the 60-point mark on the season, a new AHL career-high (58 points in 76 games with Rochester in 1999-2000).
Shots: 34-32 ALB
PP: BNG 1x4   ALB 1x2
PIM: BNG 3x9   ALB 5x13

THIS WEEK: With 11 games left in the regular season for Binghamton, the Sens return to home ice for a pair of division battles this weekend.

FRIDAY, MAR. 19^th vs. ALBANY (7:05 p.m.) Hall of Fame Night/CheerStix Night presented by ICS, Manley’s, and WBNG/WBXI: The Sens and Rats meet for the tenth and final time as Binghamton’s most frequent opponent makes their fifth visit of the year to the Arena. Binghamton owns a 5-3-1 lead in the season series (2-1-1 at home) and is 11-3-3 all-time against Albany, including a 5-2-1 mark at the Arena. DENIS HAMEL leads all scorers in the series with 12 points (5+7) with the Rats’ CRAIG DARBY right behind him with 11 (5+6). The Sens have 14 special team goals in the series (11 PPG, 3 SHG). (750 tickets remain)

SATURDAY, MAR. 20^th vs. BRIDGEPORT (7:05 p.m.) Zooperstars Night presented by BSB & Roberts Eye Care Associates: The Sound Tigers come to town for the final time in the eight-game regular season series. With their 4-3 win in Bridgeport March 7^th, Binghamton took a 4-3 (2-1 at home) lead in the head-to-head series this year. With three straight wins overall against the Sound Tigers, the Sens have evened the all-time series at 6-6-1 with a 4-2 home mark. DENIS HAMEL’s seven points (2+5) leads all series scorers. JEFF HAMILTON heads the Bridgeport leaders with five points (2+3) in seven contests against Binghamton and leads the AHL with 36 goals, 18 of which have come on the power play. WADE DUBIELEWICZ has the lowest GAA in the league at 1.47 and his .947 save percentage ranks second. (300 tickets remain)

B-NOTES: Sunday's win in Albany was the first overtime road win by the Sens this season and just their second ever (2/8/03 @ Lowell)...The Sens have never lost an overtime road decision (1-0-11)...GREG WATSON, who went 34 games between points earlier this season, has a four-game point streak working (2+2)...BRIAN McGRATTAN set a new personal best when he drew an assist for his twentieth point of the year Saturday in Wilkes-Barre...DENIS HAMEL recorded a goal and three assists last week to move into sixth place in the league scoring race with 60 points...RAY EMERY returned in goal following his five-game suspension to record a 5-4 overtime win in Albany, breaking a personal five-game losing streak...In Sunday's win at Albany, JULIEN VAUCLAIR notched a three-assist game against the River Rats for the second time this season and added a goal to tie the Sens franchise mark for points (4) and assists in a game (9)...VAULCAIR’s four-point night was the first of his career and marked the first time a Sens defenseman accomplished the feat.

SENS IN THE COMMUNTIY:
       Thursday, March 18^th
       Thomas Jefferson Elementary School  1:30 p.m.
                  Charlie Stephens, Andy Hedlund

PRACTICE SCHEDULE FOR THE WEEK OF MARCH 15^th   (subject to change):
Tuesday, March 16^th         10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Wednessday, March 17^th   10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Thursday, March 18^th       10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Friday, March 19^th            10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
                                      ALBANY @ BINGHAMTON                 7:05 p.m.
Saturday, March 20^th        10:00 a.m. – 10:45 p.m.
                                      BRIDGEPORT @ BINGHAMTON                    7:05 p.m.
Sunday, March 21^st                         No Practice

All practices/games at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena unless otherwise noted.