LAST WEEK…

Friday, Feb. 14: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 2, Binghamton 6

Shots: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 35, Binghamton 37

PP: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 1 for 5, Binghamton 4 for 9

With the top spot in the East Division on the line, the Binghamton Senators rode their special teams to a 6-2 win over the visiting Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Mike Hoffman continued his stellar season adding two goals and an assist while Andrew Hammond stopped 33 of 35 shots faced to earn his 14th victory of the season.

Shane Prince started the scoring 8:17 into the opening period off a pass from Andre Petersson on Binghamton’s second power-play opportunity of the game. Spencer Machacek scored his 11th goal of the season just over one minute later to even the score at one apiece; however, Binghamton managed three more first period goals to take a 4-1 lead heading into the locker room. Corey Cowick beat Penguins starting goaltender Eric Hartzell at 13:13 of the period before Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored his second short-handed goal of the year at 14:40 ending Hartzell’s night as he was pulled for Jeff Deslauriers. Hoffman converted another power-play chance for the B-Sens with less than a minute to play giving the Sens a three-goal cushion.

Following a stalemate of a second period, the Senators and Penguins traded power-play goals less than one minute apart in the third making it 5-2. First it was Cole Schneider who pushed home a loose puck at 4:56 for his 16th goal of the season before Penguins captain Tom Kostopoulos responded for the visitors. Hoffman notched his second goal of the night with just under 12 minutes to play putting the final score at 6-2.

Stephane Da Costa, Petersson and Chris Wideman all finished with two assists each.

Saturday, Feb. 15: Worcester 0, Binghamton 8

Shots: Worcester 29, Binghamton 37

PP: Worcester 0 for 3, Binghamton 1 for 5

The B-Sens offense continued to roll Saturday with an 8-0 dismantling of the visiting Worcester Sharks. Defenseman Mike Sdao scored twice and added a great fight with Worcester’s enforcer Jimmy Bonneau to lead Binghamton to the weekend sweep. 15 total skaters made it to the score sheet for the B-Sens while Hammond followed up a great performance Friday with an even better showing Saturday. Hammond stopped all 29 shots faced to give Binghamton its first shutout of the 2013-2014 season as well as his own first career American Hockey League shutout.

Da Costa opened the scoring for Binghamton 5:15 into the first period. After a turnover in the Sharks defensive zone Hoffman fed Da Costa on the goal crease who flipped the puck into a half open goal mouth for his 13th marker of the season. Jim O’Brien added his 11th goal of the season at 16:49 to give the B-Sens a 2-0 lead heading into the first intermission.

Binghamton added four second period goals to blow the game wide open. Schneider scored 4:48 into the frame to increase the lead to 3-0 before Sdao added his first tally of the night less than two minutes later. Shane Prince got on the score sheet at 16:13 scoring his 16th goal of the season. Mark Stone beat Worcester’s goalie Harri Sateri with less than 30 seconds remaining in the period to put the Sens up 6-0 heading into the final break.

Sdao added his second goal of the night 4:25 into the final period before Matt Puempel tipped home a shot from Pageau on the man advantage pushing the final score to 8-0. Schneider and Stone both finished with a goal and an assist while Pageau, Hoffman and Petersson all chipped in a pair of helpers to lead the Sens to the win. Sateri allowed all eight goals on 37 shots faced in losing his 18th game in 31 appearances this season. Hammond improved to 15-10-3 with the shutout victory.



Record: 31-15-1-3 (66 points)

Standings: Following a perfect 2-0 weekend the B-Sens remain atop the East Division with a two point lead over second place Hershey. The Bears have been hot lately winning their last five contests to improve to 29-16-3-3 through 51 games. Norfolk sits in third place with 62 points and a 27-15-1-7 record while Wilkes-Barre/Scranton is now in fourth with a 28-19-2-3 (61 points) record after dropping its last four games. Syracuse remains in last place with an 18-23-3-5 mark over 49 games good for 44 points.



THIS WEEK…



Wednesday, February 19 @ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (Pittsburgh Penguins)—7:05p.m.



Binghamton travels to Wilkes-Barre Wednesday night for the fifth of eight total meetings against the Penguins. Both teams have taken two wins on their home ice through four games. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton sits in fourth place in the East Division with a 28-19-2-3 and 61 points.

Veteran Tom Kostopoulos leads the Penguins offense with 19 goals and 16 assists over 49 games played. Goaltender Jeff Deslauriers has seen action in 34 games this season going 17-13-2 with 2.46 goals-against average and a 0.899 save percentage. Rookie Eric Hartzell has seen his workload in net increase lately appearing in 23 contests while compiling a 10-7-1 record to go with a 2.19 goals-against average and a 0.914 save percentage.



Friday, February 21 @ Hamilton Bulldogs (Montreal Canadians)—7:30p.m. (BELL CENTRE, Montreal, QC)

The B-Sens travel to Montreal for the final game in the two-game season series against the Hamilton Bulldogs. Hamilton beat Binghamton 5-4 in overtime back on February 8 at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa. The Bulldogs are currently 22-23-1-4 (49 points) through 50 games this season, good for third place in the North Division.

Former B-Sens Martin St. Pierre leads Hamilton with eight goals and 27 assists over 47 games this season. Rookie Sven Andrighetto leads the team in goals scored with 12 over 38 games this year. Goaltender Dustin Tokarski has appeared in net in 32 games this season recording a 16-12-2 record with 2.36 goals-against average and a 0.919 save percentage. Backup Robert Mayer is 5-11-2 over 18 appearances with a 3.03 goals-against average and a 0.901 save percentage.

Saturday, February 22 vs. Utica Comets (Vancouver Canucks)—7:05p.m.

Saturday the B-Sens host the Utica Comets for the first time this season in a 7:05p.m. matchup. The Comets are currently 20-23-3-4 over 50 games this season, good for 47 points and fourth place in the North Division.

Pascal Pelletier leads Utica with 41 points (10 goals, 31 assists) over 43 games while right wing Benn Ferriero leads the team with 17 goals on the year. Goaltender Joacim Eriksson has compiled a 14-15-2 record in 32 games this season with a 2.62 goals-against average and a 0.912 save percentage. Backup Joe Cannata is 6-10-1 with a 3.14 goals-against average and a 0.895 save percentage.



PROMOTIONS:

Saturday night when the B-Sens host the Utica Comets will be our Annual Star Wars Night. Fans in attendance have the chance to interact and take photographs with Star Wars movie characters all around the concourse. Darth Vader will do a ceremonial puck drop before the game begins at 7:05p.m.

Saturday will also be a New York Lottery Night here with the first 500 fans 18-years and older receiving special lottery coupons.

The Broome Sports Foundation will be on the main concourse auctioning off Mike Hoffman’s 2014 AHL All-Star jersey to the highest bidder.



SENS SNIPPETS…



After having multi-point games in two contests this past weekend forward Mike Hoffman has now recorded at least two points in 19 games this season.

Goaltender Andrew Hammond stopped 62 of 64 total shots faced (0.969 save percentage) this weekend in back-to-back wins including a 29 save shutout performance in the B-Sens 8-0 win over Worcester on Saturday.

Forward Shane Prince has totaled 14 points (nine goals, five assists) through his past 11 games. Prince totaled just 20 points over his first 33 games played in this season.

PRACTICE SCHEDULE (Practice times and locations are subject to change) …

Wednesday, Feb. 19 10:00a.m. – On Ice at Broome County Arena

3:30p.m. – Bus Departs for WBS

7:05p.m. – Binghamton @ WBS

Mohegan Sun Arena – Wilkes-Barre, PA

Thursday, Feb. 20 7:45a.m. – Bus to Montreal

2:30p.m. – On ice at Bell Centre

Friday, Feb. 21 11:15a.m. – On Ice at Bell Centre

7:30p.m. – Binghamton @ Hamilton

Bell Centre – Montreal, QC

Saturday, Feb. 22 On Ice at Broome County Arena – TBA

7:05p.m. – Utica vs. Binghamton

Broome County Arena

Sunday, Feb. 23 OFF – NO MEDIA AVAILABILITY

Monday, Feb. 24 10:30a.m. – On Ice at Broome County Arena

2:00p.m. – Zoo Photo Shoot

Zoo at Ross Park – Binghamton, NY

5:30p.m. – Jump Rope Event

George F. Johnson Elementary – Endicott, NY

Tuesday, Feb. 25 9:45a.m. – On Ice at Broome County Arena

12:00p.m. – Bus Departs for Toronto

-end-

For more information, please contact:

Joe Battaglini, Director of Media Relations, 607-722-7367