Sens vs. Pens Pre-Series Articles: Talent-laden Senators set sights on winning AHL's Calder Cup
April 21, 2005

Posted by: Bob Howard
Credit: Jonathan Bombulie of Citizens Voice.com

Talent-laden Senators set sights on winning AHL's Calder Cup

Jonathan Bombulie - Citizens Voice.com

CHENANGO BRIDGE, N.Y. - Binghamton Senators center Jason Spezza has already accomplished quite a bit in his young career.
He's been a junior hockey sensation, a heralded draft pick and an American Hockey League MVP. With 111 NHL games and 76 NHL points already under his belt, he has set himself up as a cornerstone of the Ottawa franchise as soon as the lockout ends.

So does Spezza really care about winning a Calder Cup championship? Is he willing to sacrifice, sweat and bleed for two months just to add another honor to his already crowded trophy case?

Judging by his comments after Senators practice Wednesday at a rink just outside Binghamton, the answers are yes and yes.
"This is huge," Spezza said. "This is probably my last chance to win it and probably the last chance for a few guys in this room. When you have a last chance at something, you want to make the most of it.

"Winning a championship at any level is always special. We get along so well and we have such a good group of guys, we don't want to go home early. We want to stay here and enjoy the success."

Spezza's comments address one of two knocks on the B-Sens this season.

While looking for reasons to pick against a clearly outstanding club, critics wondered if a team loaded with players who would have been in the NHL if not for the lockout would be motivated to play at the minor-league level.

At times this season, the B-Sens gave those critics ammunition too, losing a game to Albany here and Springfield there.
But as the playoffs drew nearer, the B-Sens seemed to bear down, winning nine of their last 10 games. Now, as a first-round series against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins is about to start Friday night, Binghamton looks like a team on a mission.

"I don't know if we're playing the best we've played all year, but we're finding ways to win hockey games," Spezza said. "We hope that we're just getting rolling and it has a snowball effect going into playoffs."

The other perceived weakness in the Binghamton armor was goaltending. As top prospect Ray Emery struggled through the first half of the season, critics identified him as the team's Achilles' heel.

These days, that criticism seems ridiculous.

Emery has wrestled the top spot on the depth chart away from Billy Thompson by winning nine of his last 11 decisions. On Wednesday, he was named AHL goaltender of the month.

"I feel good, but the team's also playing better, giving up fewer scoring chances and playing a little more conservatively," Emery said. "Things are going pretty well, but it's just a start. I don't think we've played our best hockey yet. Hopefully that's yet to come."

Emery touches on the only possible weakness the B-Sens still have. If they get too mesmerized by their own considerable offensive talent, they might neglect to play the defense required to win a championship.

"These guys are exceptionally gifted offensively, but some nights you catch a couple posts and you only get two goals," Emery said. "If you're giving up a lot of chances, it's tough to win. So I think we're the type of team that if we can take care of our own zone, the goals will come for us."