Senators Artcles: Penguins' setback a blessing to B-Sens' travel
April 18, 2005

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

Penguins' setback a blessing to B-Sens' travel

W-B/Scranton to open playoffs at the Arena

BY SCOTT LAUBER

Press & Sun-Bulletin

BINGHAMTON -- Bring on the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

Tickets to the first two games are on sale for $16 (side seating) and $15 (end seating) at the third-floor Arena office, at the Arena box office, at all Ticketmaster outlets, by phone at 722-SENS or at www.binghamtonsenators.com.
While the Binghamton Senators could rest easy after clinching the East Division title Saturday night, they had to wait until Sunday -- final day of the AHL regular season -- to learn the identity of their first opponent in the Calder Cup playoffs.

Entering Sunday, it seemed they would face the Norfolk Admirals, but with a 4-2 victory in Philadelphia, the Admirals overtook the Penguins, 4-2 losers at home to Syracuse. So despite defeating Norfolk twice last week, the Penguins finished fourth and come here Friday night for Game 1 of the best-of-seven series.

"As far as travel goes, that was our best option," goalie Ray Emery said Sunday night, noting the convenience of the one-hour jaunt to Wilkes-Barre versus the eight-hour trek to Norfolk. "Especially now, with the first round being a seven-game series, any added travel is just added wear and tear on your body."

Save for the usual wear and tear caused by an 80-game season, the Senators are in remarkably good health entering the playoffs against a team they've beaten seven straight times -- twice in the past 12 nights -- and outscored 23-9 in the last five meetings.

But the Penguins, like the Senators, have at least a half-dozen players who'd be in the NHL if not for the lockout. The Penguins reached the finals last season after battling back from 3-1 series deficits against Bridgeport and Hartford.

"We've shown a tendency all year to play to the level of our opposition, and I think we've always had respect for Wilkes-Barre," said co-coach John Paddock, who scouted the Admirals in Philadelphia while some of his players relaxed at the B-Mets game (Brandon Bochenski and Charlie Stephens participated in an on-field promotion).

"After last year, they're a team that knows what it takes to win, and they're a tested team under pressure situations."

The biggest pre-series question is which Penguins goalie will start. Andy Chiodo, the playoff hero last spring, returned from the East Coast Hockey League to shut out Norfolk on Saturday night, while No. 1 goalie Marc-Andre Fleury allowed four goals on 17 shots against Syracuse.

"It wouldn't surprise me if we saw either one," Paddock said.