Sens vs. Crunch 1/14/04 Articles: B-Sens suffer crunching defeat; Syracuse wins on fluke goal
January 15, 2004

Posted by: Bob Howard
Credit: Press Connects.com

B-Sens suffer crunching defeat

Syracuse wins on fluke goal

BY SCOTT LAUBER

Press & Sun-Bulletin

BINGHAMTON -- It's getting ugly for the Binghamton Senators.

From the fluky third-period goal that put the Syracuse Crunch ahead, to referee Wes McCauley's inconsistent officiating, to a postgame shouting match between a half-dozen hecklers and players, there was nothing pretty about Wednesday night's 5-3 defeat before 3,497 at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena.

"That one was hard to take," B-Sens captain Chris Kelly said from a sullen dressing room.

Even harder will be looking over the American Hockey League standings today. The setback to Syracuse, coupled with Norfolk's 2-1 overtime loss to Hershey, drops the Senators into sixth place in the East Division, one point behind Norfolk. About the only silver lining is Norfolk has played five more games than the Senators.

Efforts like Wednesday night's are another. The Senators were done in by the two second-period penalties taken by overzealous enforcer Brian McGrattan, a few too many giveaways in front of goalie Ray Emery and some poor puck-luck, not the effort they put into their performance.

"I'm quite happy with how we played," said assistant coach Mike Busniuk, subbing for bench boss John Paddock, who was in Manitoba attending to his ill father. "I thought they played hard for me, and I appreciate that. Other than the outcome, I'm pretty happy."

The Senators were leading 2-1 on first-period markers by Brad Tapper and Kelly when McGrattan was given a double-minor for spearing Ben Knopp three minutes into the second. Syracuse cashed in with center Scott Cameron's power-play goal at 5:24 to tie the game.

Upon leaving the box, McGrattan mouthed off to McCauley and got an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, which led to Darrel Scoville's power-play goal at 6:40 and a 3-2 Crunch lead.

"The four-minute and the two-minute (penalties), that's what killed us," said Busniuk, who didn't agree with the spearing call after watching it on tape. "Instead of being ahead 2-1 and rolling, we're down 3-2 and scrambling."

Said Kelly: "It's something (McGrattan) will learn from, but we should've done a better job killing those penalties."

McGrattan didn't get off the bench for the rest of the game, but seemingly got off the hook when, with three seconds left in the period, Denis Hamel stepped around a defender and wristed the tying goal by Leclaire.

"That should've lifted us," Kelly said. "We had a bunch of chances (in the third), but we couldn't put one in."

Syracuse moved ahead at 5:17 of the third period on a fortuitous bounce. Emery stopped Donald MacLean's shot, but the rebound deflected off two sticks and on to winger Mike Pandolfo's for an easy tap in.

The Crunch added an insurance goal when Tim Jackman rifled a shot past Emery with 1:34 left in regulation.

As the frustrated Senators were leaving the ice, a group of "fans" directed some comments at defenseman Steve Bancroft. Emery, McGrattan and Bancroft exchanged words with the hecklers, but no physical confrontation ensued.

"They've been on me all year," Bancroft said. "There are kids in the crowd. My kids are in the crowd."

* Slap shots: Rookie defensman Jan Platil recorded his first pro point with the secondary assist on Tapper's goal. ... Josh Langfeld, one of three Senators selected for next month's AHL All-Star Game, scored his first NHL goal Tuesday night in Ottawa's 4-0 victory over New Jersey and goalie Martin Brodeur. "To score the first goal against the guy considered the next best goalie to come along behind Patrick Roy means a lot," Langfeld said. ... Several Ottawa players, including former B-Sens Jason Spezza and Antoine Vermette, enjoyed a day off Monday in New York by attending a taping of The Late Show With David Letterman.