AHL ASG: Bochenski helps PlanetUSA rally; Canada blows early 4-0 lead
February 15, 2005

Posted by: Bob Howard
Credit: Tris Wykes of Press Connects.com

Bochenski helps PlanetUSA rally

Canada blows early 4-0 lead

BY TRIS WYKES

Correspondent

MANCHESTER, N.H. -- Scoring goals and making plays has thus far been Jason Spezza's calling card in pro hockey. But the Binghamton Senators center misfired on a shootout attempt during Canada's 5-4 loss Monday night to PlanetUSA in the AHL All-Star Game before 9,916 at Verizon Wireless Arena.

The B-Sens' Brandon Bochenski did score for PlanetUSA.

Spezza, who entered the contest leading the league in scoring with 74 points, led off the shootout for his side and bore down on goaltender Ryan Miller of Rochester. Spezza's low shot was smothered by the netminder's pads and the Canadians eventually succumbed 3-0 in the extra session.

"I kind of missed that one a little bit," said Spezza, leaning back in his locker room stall with a piece of pizza after the nationally televised game. "I thought I had him and if I would have hit the five hole (between the goalie's pads) I would have scored. But he's a good goalie and he stopped me last night in the skills competition, too."

The Canadians' loss meant their five-game winning streak ended and they missed out on $500 winners' checks. But Spezza clearly enjoyed rubbing shoulder pads with a who's who of young hockey stars and laughed about being slapped with the game's only penalty.

"I lead the league in that category, huh?" said Spezza, who was whistled for holding in the first period but then saw his teammates score a shorthanded goal. "Getting a penalty in an All-Star game is always funny and I couldn't believe I got one."

Down 4-0 after a period, PlanetUSA produced three unanswered goals in the middle stanza. The third of those came from Bochenski, one of three other Senators in the game along with Brian Pothier and Anton Volchenkov.

The play began when Worcester's Dennis Wideman coughed up the puck high in his own slot. It bounded back to Bochenski atop the crease and the league's rookie scoring leader settled it with his right skate before whipping a shot over the glove of goaltender Joey McDonald of Grand Rapids.

PlanetUSA struck for a 4-4 tie at the third period's midpoint.