SENS NEWS

Binghamton Strikes First!

4/27 - Portland, ME

In the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2003, Binghamton got a boost from the return of the AHL's Regular Season MVP and Leading Scorer, Corey Locke. The Pirates scored the game's first goal just 4:27 into the game when Maxime Legault beat Robin Lehner. That's all the scoring of the first period, as Portland outshot the Sens 11-9 in the game's open stanza.

In the second, the Senators would shift momentum with Captain Ryan Keller scoring at 6:28 from Zack Smith and Ryan Potulny. Binghamton would go on the powerplay 54 seconds later with a holding penalty on Mark Voakes. It would take the league's best regular season powerplay unit just 16 seconds to score, as Bobby Butler beat David Leggio at 7:39, on the assist from Locke and Andre Benoit, and the Sens would open a 2-1 lead.

It wasn't over yet, with 2:46 left in the middle period, Portland would tie the game on a slapper by Colin Stuart, and the two teams would head to the locker rooms knotted at two. The Sens outshot the Pirates 18-14 in the second.

The third period belonged to the Senators, and at 7:35, Zack Smith scored to break the tie, on the assist from Potulny and Benoit. Potulny is the AHL's leading scorer in the playoffs with 16 points, after recording two more points tonight. The Sens outshot the Pirates 43-35 in the 3-2 win, and lead the series 1-0, with game Thursday at 7:05 at the Cumberland County Civic Center.

SENS MAKE HISTORY!

4/23 - Manchester, NH

It wasn't pretty, but the Senators got it done and advance! In AHL history, the Sens are the second team to win four overtime games in one series, just the sixteenth club to come back from a 3-1 series deficit, and only the sixth team to win series games six and seven on the road.

It wasn't easy, as the Sens again blew a 3-goal lead, but rallied to tie it late and then Ryan Potulny closed out a 5-point night with the overtime winner.

In the first period it was the Senators who got on the board first, with Ryan Keller scoring at 13:57, with the assist to Geoff Kinrade and Ryan Potulny. He'd strike again less than three minutes later with help from Potulny and Colin Greening at 16:41. A late penalty would test Sens goaltender Robin Lehner, but the period closed with a 2-0 lead.

In the second, Manchester had carry-over penalty time, but it'd be Erik Condra on the pass from Potulny for the Senators striking shorthanded just 56 seconds into the period for a 3-0 lead. The Monarchs would get on the board when Bud Holloway would slap it past Lehner for the quick strike at 5:11 of the period. However, the Sens would not roll-over, responding 54 seconds later on the Bobby Butler break.

The Sens looked to be cruising to the win, but in cruise control, the game got interesting. Manchester made it 4-2 near the mid-way mark of the second, as Jake Muzzini scored, and then two quick goals in 33 seconds by Brandon Kozun and John Zeiler knotted the game at four at the end of two.

After losing control of the game in the second, the Sens seemed to be running around in the third, and a Andre Benoit hooking penalty at 9:53 would prove costly, as just 26 seconds later Dwight King would put the Monarchs on top 5-4. Playing from behind is something the Sens had been excelling at lately, and proved up to the task again, as Condra netted his second of the night from Keller and Potulny with 1:45 remaining to tie it and send this game to overtime.

In an AHL record tying sixth overtime game of the series, the Senators would dodge early pressure from the Monarchs and Potulny would get his 5th point of the night, scoring the game winner at 3:07 to clinch it! With the win, the Sens advance to the Atlantic Division Finals against the Portland Pirates, who today closed out the Connecticut Whale in their series. Game one scheduled for Wednesday at the Cumberland County Civic Center.

Binghamton outshot Manchester 39-37 on the game, and the three stars were: 1) Ryan Potulny, 2) Erik Condra, 3) Dwight King of the Monarchs.

Game Seven-Saturday!

4/22 - Manchester, NH

The heart attack kids, the Binghamton Senators, forced a seventh game in their first round Atlantic Division series. They looked destined to give this game away after one period of play. Outshot 16-7 in the first period, without anything seriously resembling a scoring opportunity, it quickly became the Robin Lehner show. The young 19-year old rookie stood on his head to keep the Sens and Monarchs scoreless.

Near the midway point of the second period, with a 21-9 advantage in shots, Justin Azevedo would get Manchester on the board just off the faceoff just beating Lehner. The Sens would get a couple more shots, but trailed after two 1-0, and were outshot 27-16.

The third period started and the Sens flying, taking the game to the Monarchs. The increased effort would pay off at 10:26 of the period when Bobby Butler would strike, for his third of the playoffs, and knot the game at one. Binghamton would outshoot Manchester 10-7 in the third and head to overtime for the 4th time in 6 games.

The Senators appeared to have some additional urgency or desire in overtime, but no one would score through as the Sens ringed the puck off the post several times and Lehner continued his solid performance in net.

In the second overtime, during a Monarch flurry, Andre Benoit would push the net off its moorings stopping play, and the Monarchs were awarded a penalty shot. Bud Holloway had the game and series winner on his stick, and he was stoned by Robin Lehner. Five minutes later, with the Sens applying pressure, Geoff Kinrade would get his wrap-around game winner past Martin Jones and the Sens have ralled to send this series to a decisive game seven on Saturday.

The Monarchs outshot Binghamton on the game 52-45, and both teams were scoreless on the powerplay. The 3-stars were: 1) Geoff Kinrade, 2) Bobby Butler, 3) Justin Azevedo. Game seven is scheduled for a Saturday 7pm faceoff at Verizon Wireless Arena.

Series Heads Back to NH!

4/20 - Binghamton

It was do or die for Binghamton, their backs are against the wall - lose and your season is over, win and you play another day! It wasn't pretty, but the Senators got it done in game five. The Sens opened the scoring in the first, when Cody Bass got his first of the playoffs. Manchester however would respond on a following 5-3 powerplay to draw even, as Viatcheslav Voynov beat Robin Lehner. The Monarchs weren't done though as Ray Kaunisto would strike just 2:10 later for the 2-1 lead going into the lockers after one.

Bobby Butler would get the Sens back in the game 5:32 into the second as we were all knotted up at two. The Senators would sit back again as the period progressed and Kaunisto would net his second of the night and reclaim the Monarch lead, 3-2 after two periods of play.

As he did the previous night, Ryan Potulny would lift the Sens to a tie, this time on the powerplay, just 3:08 into the third. Binghamton would give it right back though, just 1:55 later, as David Meckler would put the Monarchs back up by one. As the third crept by, the Senators continued to pressure, peppering Jeff Zatkoff with 16 third period shots. Finally, with 15:28, like he has 4 other times in the past two games, Potulny scored his second powerplay goal of the night, evening the game at four and sending this one to overtime.

In the extra stanza play was end to end, and then the Senators got a crucial powerplay and Kaspars Daugavins would electrify the Arena crowd with the game winner, at 6:38 of the first overtime, sending the series back to Manchester for game six on Friday.

Sens Throw in Towel!

4/19 - Binghamton

The Senators were booed off the ice, as they let yet another game slip away. They started slow and sloppy, falling behind 2-0 just into the second period. Ryan Potulny would rebound for the Sens, striking for two quick to tie it before the 2nd was over. The two goals brought the Arena crowd to life.

Manchester scored a weird goal 7:05 into the third, but the Sens would tie it at three, as Potulny scored another, for the hat-trick with 10:26 remaining. Then Manchester would score shorthanded, on a powerplay, and then just crashing the net - 3 goals in less than 4 minutes - and that's all she wrote.

In total, the Monarchs scored a total of 4 goals on 10 shots in the third period. Binghamton outshot Manchester 38-26, but their quality was minimal. This win puts a stranglehold on the opening round series for Monarchs. They can go for the road sweep on Wednesday at the Arena, as the two teams meet again for game five, faceoff is scheduled for 7:05pm.

Sens Cough-Up 3-Goal Lead!

4/17 - Binghamton

The playoffs returned, the fans were rocking the Arena, and the Sens came out flying! Binghamton got goals early and often in the first period. Benoit got Bingo on the board, 3:28 into the game. Followed by Wick and Greening for a 3-0 lead after one period of play.

The second opened with a Binghamton powerplay, that Manchester would get some short-handed attempts on, and that set the pace, as Holloway scored a pair, and pulled the Monarchs within before the second would end.

Binghamton regained a two-goal lead in the third as Bobby Butler scored on the powerplay at 7:44 of the third. Manchester countered less than two minutes later, and tied it less than two minutes later. To tie this and send it to overtime. Then just 1:43 into OT, Holloway would get his hat-trick and game-winner for the Monarchs.

Manchester reclaimed home-ice advantage with the win, and have no pressure in the next two games in Binghamton, game four is scheduled for 7:05pm Tuesday.

Playoffs Back in Bingo!

4/17 - Binghamton

The playoffs long awaited return to Arena ice is tonight! It will mark the first time since losing to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in game five disappointment in the opening round of the 2005 playoffs.

Binghamton and Manchester are tied, one game a piece, and good seats are still available. Faceoff is scheduled for 5:05pm.

Sens Comeback, Even It!

4/15 - Manchester, NH

The Binghamton Senators looked to even their series with the Monarchs, but after a scoreless first, it was Manchester who got on the board first, scoring two in the second period. The Sens however got on the board just 1:07 into the third, with a Potulny tally. Keller would add one to tie it at 5:22, and the Sens would grab the lead on a Daugavins goal on the powerplay at 8:59.

Binghamton couldn't hold Manchester off til the final horn as Muzzin tied it with 1:02 remaining to send it to overtime. It was the rookie Grant who was the hero, scoring 4:03 into the extra stanza to even the series at one. Next three games in Binghamton!

Sens Flat, Monarchs Control!

4/14 - Manchester, NH

The Manchester Monarchs dominated the Senators for much of the game, with Barry Brust keeping them it! The Senators trailed 1-0 after two periods, hoping to reverse a trend, where they had only won one game all season where they trailed after the second.

The Sens applied pressure, but it was the Monarchs who struck next, making it 2-0. The Sens would pull within one, but it was too little too late, falling to in game one, by a final 2-1. Manchester leads the series 1-0.

The Quest Begins Now!!

4/14 - Manchester, NH

The Binghamton Senators are in the American Hockey League Playoffs for the first time since the spring of 2005. Tonight they open game one of their best-of-seven series with the Manchester Monarchs!

The Sens were pushed to fifth place in the East Division on the season's final day, as Norfolk leapfrogged them with a win in Connecticut. However, Binghamton's 92 points crosses them over to 3rd in the Atlantic Division. The Monarchs were edged by the Portland Pirates for first, and will face the Sens as the second seed.