Sens vs. Penguins 4/22/05 Articles: Senators' lockout refugees lead way
April 23, 2005

Posted by: Bob Howard
Credit: Allen Panzeri of Ottawa Citizen

Senators' lockout refugees lead way

Ottawa contingent help Binghamton outclass Penguins

Allen Panzeri

The Ottawa Citizen

April 23, 2005

Senators 5, Penguins 2

(Binghamton leads series 1-0)

BINGHAMTON, New York - The Binghamton Senators coaching staff doesn't like to single out the contingent from Ottawa, but last night it was tough to shine the spotlight anywhere else.

Ottawa's lockout refugees provided the bulk of the firepower to dismantle the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 5-2 and take a 1-0 lead in this best-of-seven AHL season.

Antoine Vermette, Jason Spezza, and Josh Langfeld each had a goal and an assist, while defenceman Anton Volchenkov had two assists. Spezza has now had at least one point in his past 21 games.

Binghamton's scoring was completed by defenceman Jesse Fibiger and Charlie Stephens.

To make matters even more satisfying for both versions of the Senators, Binghamton goalie Ray Emery outshone his more highly-rated counterpart, Marc-Andre Fleury.

Langfeld said the Ottawa group takes their responsibility to set the tone seriously.

"We want to establish what we can in the dressing room before we go out there," he said.

"As much as we can give to the young guys about finishing checks and doing the little things, that's what's going to carry us far in the playoffs."

However, while the result was satisfying, the coaching staff wasn't happy.

"Certainly any win in the playoffs is important," said co-coach John Paddock.

"But that was far from the way we have to play. It was probably our worst game in the last two weeks. I don't think we were ready for playoff intensity."

He also took a shot at the refereeing.

"Every time (Spezza) came down on the boards he got slashed across the wrists," said Paddock. "The referees have to do a better job at calling the stickwork."

Matt Murley and Michel Ouellet got through to beat Emery, but the Senators' offensive power is inexorable. During the season they set a franchise record with 276 goals (up from 239). Their only weakness is to lapse periodically on defence, but last night they didn't give the Penguins much. The win was their eight straight over the Penguins this year.

"We all made some mistakes," said Emery, the game's first star. But the bottom line was that we did enough of the little things to win."

In a bruising first period, the Senators took a 2-0 lead.

The Penguins got off to the start they didn't want when Shane Endicott and then Ryan Whitney went off to give the Senators a five-on-three advantage for 44 seconds. Just enough time for Langfeld to sweep a rebound past Fleury from in front.

The second Binghamton goal came on a broken play seconds after Emery made a wonderful save on Endicott. With both teams down a man and the Penguins threatening, Emery stayed right with Endicott as he tried a cross-country deke and then kicked out a point-blank shot.

After the save, the puck went quickly toward the Penguin zone, and, on a fast break, Vermette, Langfeld, and Fibiger found themselves with all sorts of room in front of Fleury. From the slot, Fibiger swept a shot over Fleury.

The first period cost each team a player.

The Penguins 'Ross Lupaschuk left at 11:06 after being crunched by Chris Neil behind the Penguins' net, and Binghamton's Denis Hamel limped off after being hit late in the period. They both were back at the start of the second, but Hamel didn't return for the third period.