Senators Artcles: B-Sens ready for 'critical' two-game series in Norfolk
March 26, 2005

Posted by: Bob Howard
Credit: Brian Moritz of Press Connects.com

B-Sens ready for 'critical' two-game series in Norfolk

Intensity builds for postseason

BY BRIAN MORITZ

Press & Sun-Bulletin

In one breath, John Paddock downplayed the importance of this weekend's series.

The Binghamton Senators' two games in Norfolk, are no more important than any of the other six times the Sens have played the Admirals this season, B-Sens co-coach Paddock said.

In the next breath, Paddock acknowledged that the two-game series, which starts at 7 tonight, is critical as the Senators battle for the AHL's Eastern Division championship.

"When there's only 12 games left (in the regular season), you see the implications of the result," Paddock said earlier this week.

The Senators enter the weekend tied for Philadelphia for first place in the Eastern Division with 85 points, one point ahead of Norfolk. The Sens have 12 games left in the regular season, Philadelphia has 13 and Norfolk has 11, which includes nine at home.

"These last games are almost all divisional games," said Senators center Jason Spezza, whose 95 points lead the team in scoring. "It's a good gear up for the playoffs. Every team kind of has a similar schedule, and we're all fighting for the same spot."

Of the Senators' 12 remaining games, eight are against Eastern Division opponents.

"We're playing some good teams (in the next month)," said Senators' right winger Brian McGrattan. "If we can beat these guys and play well against, them, I think we'll know where we stand going into the playoffs."

The teams split their games earlier this month at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena. The Sens are 2-3-1-0 in their season series, but have struggled with the Admirals.

In the past two seasons, the Senators have won just six of 18 games.

"I think there's a little too much made of that," Paddock said. "Give them some credit, they're a good team. That doesn't mean we're not going to beat them or anything, but they're a good team, they're well-coached and they follow their game plan."

The game within this weekend's games will be between the Senators' league-best power play and Norfolk's penalty-killing unit, also the league's best.

"On the power play, usually you tell the players to take what they give you," Paddock said. "Some teams have more of a tendency to force you down low and into the corners and give you a little more up top, and other teams take away your point men and give you something down low.

"Our players need to determine what's available on the ice and use it. If you've got the puck down low and they've got three or four guys caved down low, why keep jamming at that? Move it to the top. I think we have to make quick decisions and we have to execute our passes, and something will be available."

Whatever the Admirals do on the penalty kill, it works against the Senators, who have converted just one of 32 power play opportunities.

"We've had some games there where we didn't put the puck in the net we didn't play all that bad, but we didn't get wins," said Spezza, who has six points against Norfolk this season.

"Our power play's going good. People are always asking about our power play, but we're still first in the league."

Spezza needs just five points in the next 12 games to become the first AHL player to break the 100-point plateau since Derek Armstrong did it in 2000-01. McGrattan is 60 penalty minutes shy of setting the league's single-season record.

* Slapshots: Randy Lee, the Ottawa Senators' strength and conditioning coach, spent two days working with the B-Sens this week. Lee put the players through off-ice workouts Tuesday and Wednesday ... The Senators' post-game jersey action last week raised nearly $8,100 for the Day Nursery Association, team officials announced this week. For the record, Billy Thompson's game-worn jersey raised the most money, bringing in $1,200 to the organization that provides low-cost day care in the Binghamton area. ... Spezza, Brian Pothier, Brandon Bocheski and Anton Volchenkov are among 48 players featured in trading cards issued as part of the 2005 AHL All-Star set.