LAST WEEK…

Saturday, Mar. 8: Utica 6, Binghamton 5 (SO)

Shots: Utica 30, Binghamton 44

PP: Utica 1 for 3, Binghamton 1 for 9

Binghamton fell 6-5 in a shootout to the Utica Comets this past Saturday at home despite carrying a 4-0 lead midway through the second period. Utica’s Brandon DeFazio scored shorthanded on B-Sens goaltender Nathan Lawson at 9:53 of the third period to force overtime before notching the eventual game winner in the third round of the shootout. Lawson finished with 24 saves on 29 shots faced in the losing effort.

Jean-Gabriel Pageau, who led Binghamton with two goals on the night, opened the scoring at 11:07 of the first period. With the B-Sens down a man, Buddy Robinson managed to poke the puck free off a Comets player’s stick and began a two-on-one rush up the ice with Pageau. Robinson got Utica starting goaltender Joacin Eriksson to commit before sliding the puck to Pageau who buried his third short-handed marker of the year.

After playing the rest of the opening frame to a stalemate, Binghamton exploded for three goals in a 79 second span to expand its lead to 4-0. Pageau notched his second of the game at 3:17 of the period before David Dziurzynski scored his sixth goal of the season less than 30 seconds later. Mike Sdao concluded the flurry with a slap shot from just inside the blue line at 4:36 and ended Eriksson’s night between the pipes with backup Joe Cannata stepping in. Utica responded with two goals a minute and a half apart, the first coming from Alex Biega at 12:03 before Ray Kaunisto cut Binghamton’s lead to 4-2. Matt Puempel pushed the score to 5-2 just past the 15-minute mark of the period on a power-play goal off a great pass from Mark Stone. Utica answered with a man-advantage strike of its own when Pascal Pelletier buried his 12th goal of the year to send the Comets to the locker room down 5-3.

Alex Friesen scored an even-strength tally 6:25 into the third period before DeFazio forced overtime with his 11th goal of the year just shy of the midway point of the stanza. Binghamton, thanks to a late power-play, dominated the extra period registering eight shots on goal. Despite the barrage of shots, the Sens failed to beat relief goaltender Cannata sending the game to a shootout. Pelletier and DeFazio converted on their attempts while Puempel was the lone Senator to find the back of the net during the shootout.

Pelletier, Friesen and Biega all finished with a goal and an assist while Kellan Lain and Cal O’Reilly chipped in a pair of helpers to lead the Comets to their third consecutive shootout victory. In addition to Pageau’s pair of goals, Robinson and Stephane Da Costa added two assists each for Binghamton. Cannata finished with 27 saves in just over 40 minutes of relief action to earn the victory.



Sunday, Mar. 9: Binghamton 3, Syracuse 4

Shots: Binghamton 36, Syracuse 28

PP: Binghamton 2 for 6, Syracuse 2 for 4

For the second straight game Binghamton squandered a two-goal lead heading into the final period, losing 4-3 in regulation to the Crunch on Sunday afternoon and pushing the losing streak to six-straight games. Brett Connolly tied the game at three apiece just shy of the 13 minute mark of the third before Vladislav Namestnikov scored the game-winner at 17:18 to complete the comeback.

Binghamton opened the scoring with a pair of first period tallies with the first coming from Shane Prince on the power-play 3:15 into the game. Puempel one-timed a Da Costa cross-ice feed at 14:35 of the frame for his 11th power-play strike of the season to extend the Sens lead to 2-0 heading into the second period.

Cedric Paquette put the Crunch on the board 8:18 into the second on a power-play goal to cut Binghamton’s lead to 2-1. Less than five minutes later, Da Costa returned the B-Sens two-goal cushion when he picked up a loose puck in front of Syracuse netminder Kristers Gudlevskis and tipped it home for his 14th goal of the season. Binghamton’s Andrew Hammond turned aside nine of the 10 shots faced in the middle period to send his team into the final frame of regulation up 3-1.

Syracuse’s rally began 7:42 into the third period when Philippe Paradis scored on the power play to shrink the Sens lead to 3-2. Connolly’s and Namestnikov’s tallies completed the come-from-behind win for the hosts. Connolly and Namestnikov led the Crunch with a goal and an assist each while Da Costa and Puempel matched their efforts in the loss. Hammond allowed four goals on 28 shots faced to fall to 17-14-3 for the year. Gudlevskis rallied after struggling early on to finish with 33 saves and earn his 12th win of the season.



Record: 33-20-1-4 (71 points)

Standings: After only earning a single point over its last six games, Binghamton fell from the top spot in the East Division to third. Despite the recent struggles the B-Sens are only one point back of division leaders the Norfolk Admirals (32-19-1-7) and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (32-20-3-5) who have played 59 and 60 games respectively. The Hershey Bears sit three points out of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with a 30-22-3-4 record and 67 points over 59 games played. Syracuse remains last in the division with a 23-26-4-5 record over 58 games.



THIS WEEK…

Wednesday, March 12 @ Rochester Americans (Buffalo Sabres)—7:00p.m.



The B-Sens will look to get back on the winning track with a trip to Rochester this Wednesday in a 7:00p.m. faceoff versus the Americans. Rochester currently sits in second place in the Western Conference’s North Division with a record of 30-20-5-4 (69 points) over 59 games played.

Center Phil Varone leads the Americans with 50 points (14 goals, 36 assists) through 52 games played while teammate Luke Adam leads the teams with 26 goals over 44 games this season.

Goaltender Nathan Lieuwen has seen action in 30 games this year while compiling a 17-9-2 record with 2.37 goals-against average and a 0.920 save percentage. Backup Matt Hackett has a 13-16-2 record with 2.95 goals-against average and a 0.902 save percentage over 32 contests.



Friday, March 14 vs. Norfolk Admirals (Anaheim Ducks)—7:05p.m.

The B-Sens host the Norfolk Admirals this Friday in a big East Division matchup. Norfolk is currently tied with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for first in the East Division with 72 points in the standings, just one better than Binghamton.

Former Binghamton Senator Andre Petersson, who was dealt to the Admiral’s in exchange for defenseman Alex Grant during last week’s trade deadline, leads all Norfolk skaters with 42 points (18 goals, 24 assists) over 49 games played. Left winger Devante Smith-Pelly leads the Admirals with 21 goals through 46 games.

Netminder John Gibson has compiled a 18-13-4 record over 38 games this season with a 2.28 goals-against average and a 0.922 save percentage. Gibson currently leads all AHL goaltenders with five shutouts this year. Backup Brad Thiessen has played in eight games this year while going 3-2-2 with 2.07 goals-against average and a 0.940 save percentage.

Saturday, March 15 vs. Rochester Americans (Buffalo Sabres)—7:05p.m.

Binghamton rounds out its three-game week hosting the Rochester Americans.



PROMOTIONS:

Friday night is the B-Sens annual Faith and Family Night with discounted tickets available to all area church members and their youth groups. Special Faith and Family night tickets are available by calling the Binghamton Senators Executive Office at (607) 722-7367 and mentioning Faith and Family.

Christian Rock Band Ten Days will be performing live on the concourse starting at 6:00p.m. when the gates open. For more information on Ten Days visit their website at www.ten-days.com.

Fans are welcome to stay after the game Friday for a postgame skate presented by Fidelis Care. All participants in the open skate with receive a special giveaway courtesy of Fidelis Care.

The Senators will be wearing their special St. Patty’s Day themed jerseys for the first of two straight nights on Friday as well.

Fans can also save money on tickets for Friday night with the Friday-2-Pack which offers two tickets (sections 6-10), two hotdogs and two small sodas for just $32.00. This offer is only valid at the B-Sens Executive Office.

AAA members who present their AAA Cards when purchasing their tickets at either the Sens Executive Office or the Arena Box Office will receive $4.00 off their tickets for Friday.

Saturday night will be the annual Pucks 4 Paws Night presented by Dickin Memorial Animal Hospital. Various animal care organizations from around the area including Dickin Memorial, Animal Care Council, Hounds for Heroes and more will have tables along the concourse. The Pucks 4 Paws Diamond Pendant Raffle winner will be announced during the third intermission. Raffle tickets for both the pendant and the dog & cat gift baskets along the concourse will be available at the Pucks 4 Paws table through second intermission.

The Labatt Bubble Hockey Tournament finals will take place during Saturday’s game as well. The semi-final matchups will take place on the concourse pregame with the finals happening live from the ice during first intermission.

The Carle School of Irish Dance will be on hand during first intermission with a performance on center ice.

All fans in attendance Saturday are welcome to stay postgame for the live auction of our St. Patty’s Day themed game-worn jerseys.



SENS SNIPPETS…



Defenseman Alex Grant made his Binghamton Senators debut on Saturday, March 8, against the Utica Comets. The 25-year old Antigonish, Nova Scotia, native was acquired by Ottawa in a trade between the Anaheim Ducks which sent Andre Petersson to the Ducks AHL affiliate, the Norfolk Admirals. Grant registered an assist and a plus-one rating along with six shots on goal in his first game in a B-Sens uniform.

Forward Jean-Gabriel Pageau recorded his third short-handed goal of the season in Saturday’s 6-5 shootout loss to the Utica Comets. With the goal Pageau joins teammates Derek Grant and Cole Schneider for a share of the team lead and second overall in the AHL. The B-Sens lead all teams with 16 short-handed tallies on the season.

Defenseman Chris Wideman is tied for sixth overall among AHL defenseman with 39 points (seven goals, 32 assists) through 56 games played.

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

Wednesday, Mar. 12 10:00a.m. – On Ice Broome County Arena

2:00p.m. – Bus Departs for Rochester

7:00p.m. – Binghamton @ Rochester

Blue Cross Arena—Rochester, NY



Thursday, Mar. 13 11:00a.m. – On Ice Broome County Arena

Friday, Mar. 14 10:00a.m. – On Ice Broome County Arena

7:05p.m. – Norfolk vs. Binghamton

Broome County Arena—Binghamton, NY

Saturday, Mar. 15 10:45a.m. – On Ice Broome County Arena

7:05p.m. – Rochester vs. Binghamton

Broome County Arena—Binghamton , NY

Sunday, Mar. 16 OFF—NO MEDIA AVAILABILITY

Monday, Mar. 17 10:30a.m. – On Ice Broome County Arena

Tuesday, Mar. 18 10:30a.m. – On Ice Broome County Arena

-end-

For more information, please contact:

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