Senators Artcles: Spezza within one point of reaching 100 for season
March 30, 2005

Posted by: Bob Howard
Credit: Scott Lauber of Press Connects.com

Spezza within one point of reaching 100 for season

BY SCOTT LAUBER

Press & Sun-Bulletin

BINGHAMTON -- It feels like a century since an AHL player reached the century mark for points in a season, but Jason Spezza is on the precipice of ending the four-year drought.

Reaching the century mark

BINGHAMTON'S AHL 100-POINT SCORERS

1995-96: Peter Ferraro, Rangers, 101

1992-93: Don Biggs, Rangers,138

1992-93: Brian McReynolds, Rangers, 100

1984-85: Paul Gardner, Whalers, 130

1983-84: Ross Yates, Whalers, 108

1982-83: Ross Yates, Whalers, 125

OTHER BINGHAMTON 100-POINT SCORERS

1973-74: Rod Bloomfield, Dusters (NAHL), 119

1974-75: Rod Bloomfield, Dusters (NAHL), 109

1976-77: Rod Bloomfield, Dusters (NAHL), 173

1976-77: Dave Staffen, Dusters (NAHL), 127

1976-77: Pierre Laganiere, Dusters (NAHL), 127

2000-01: Chris Grenville, Icemen (UHL), 109


With his next goal or assist, Spezza, the Binghamton Senators' center, will become the league's first 100-point scorer since Hartford's Derek Armstrong in 2000-01 and Binghamton's first in the AHL since Peter Ferraro tallied 101 for the Rangers in 1995-96.

"Obviously, it's something you'd like to do," Spezza said after practice Tuesday. "I've gotten myself in position to do it, so I might as well finish the job. But it's not really my main focus right now. I'm trying to help the team win games, and if you play well as a team, then the points will come."

Earlier this month, Ottawa Senators general manager John Muckler said he thought it would boost Spezza's confidence to score 100 points, a milestone that appears inevitable thanks to his run of 18 points in the last 10 games.

There's also another goal within reach for Ottawa's future No. 1 center: An AHL scoring title.

Spezza has a five-point lead on Manchester Monarchs center Mike Cammalleri, but the Monarchs have played one fewer game than the Senators. Cammalleri is leading the league with 41 goals for Manchester, which is in first place in the Atlantic Division and clinched a playoff spot last week.

More than two-thirds of Spezza's points have come via assists. He leads the AHL with 72 helpers, 17 shy of the league record set by Hershey's George "Red" Sullivan in 1953-54. If he didn't have any goals, he'd still be the top scorer on the Senators and 23 other AHL teams.

"I think it would be really nice and a real credit to Jason and the team," coach Dave Cameron said of Spezza's pursuit of the scoring title. "He's a very unselfish player. You just look at the number of assists he has and you know he's a team player."