Sens vs. River Rats 2/12/05 Articles: Brawl part of beating; Rats endure shellacking
February 13, 2005

Posted by: Bob Howard
Credit: Matt Graves of Times Union.com

Brawl part of beating

Rats endure shellacking;146 penalty minutes given

By MATT GRAVES, Staff writer

First published: Sunday, February 13, 2005

ALBANY -- The Albany River Rats were hoping to go into the AHL All-Star break on a wave of momentum, but instead got washed ashore by a Binghamton juggernaut in one of the uglier games in recent memory at Pepsi Arena.

This bitter rivalry took a hideous turn in front of the third-largest crowd of the season (6,068) at 9:42 of the third period with Binghamton in front 5-0 when a brawl involving all 10 skaters and both goaltenders broke out.

It began when Albany's Rob Skrlac retaliated against a slash by Binghamton goalie Ray Emery in front of the crease and ended with 146 minutes of penalties, including seven game misconducts and two match penalties.

"That's the worst that's been here in a long time," Skrlac said. "I wasn't going to stand there and let a goaltender try to take away my manhood with his stick in front of the net. I dealt with it accordingly."

Emery said he was protecting his crease.

"A point shot was coming, he cross-checked me, and I just whacked him," said the veteran goaltender. "I heard him grimace and then he speared me, so I slashed him again."

When the sticks, gloves, helmets and Cam Janssen's jersey were finally removed from the ice, the East Division-leading Senators stopped a seven-game losing streak with a 7-0 thrashing that ended Albany's three-game win streak.

Binghamton virtually put the game away at 3:48 of the second period, doing what the Senators do best -- scoring on the opponents' power play. Pat Kavanagh outwrestled both Alex Brooks and Bobby Allen in the slot and put a short-handed goal past a prone Ari Ahonen. It was Binghamton's 13th of the season.

"The short-handed goal was a killer," said Rats coach Robbie Ftorek. "That really was the turner, I think."

The Senators would stretch the advantage to 5-0 on goals by Josh Langfeld and Greg Watson 4:02 apart later in the second period. A pair of power-play goals after the altercation by former RPI defenseman Brian Pothier and Denis Hamel (27th) closed out the assault for the Senators (28-18-4-4).

"They came in just like we did in their building (a 4-0 Rats win two weeks ago)," Ftorek said. "They were skating, and we weren't."

Goals by Charlie Stephens and rookie star Brendan Bochenski put the Senators up 2-0 in the first.

Emery stopped Dean McAmmond at the right post on Albany's best chance of the game with 1:36 left in the first. Billy Thompson came on in relief after the brawl and preserved the shutout.

Notes: The Rats had six defensemen for the first time this week with the return of rookie Teemu Kesa, out the last two games with flu symptoms.

Matt Graves can be reached at 454-5456 or by e-mail at mgraves@timesunion.com.