Sens vs. Rochester 1/24/04 Articles: Amerks lose player, game
January 25, 2004

Posted by: Bob "Vinnie Bobarino" Howard
Credit: Democrat & Chronicle

Amerks lose player, game

Staff report

(January 25, 2004) — BINGHAMTON — The Rochester Americans lost defenseman Andy Delmore halfway into their trip to Binghamton.

Upon arrival at the Broome County Arena, they lost the game.

Brooks Laich scored twice, including the winner late in the second period, as the Binghamton Senators defeated the Amerks 3-1 on Saturday night.

While the Amerks received a boost by Friday’s reassignment of left winger Jason Botterill from the Buffalo Sabres, they lost Delmore during the bus ride to Binghamton.

Sabres defensemen Jay McKee and James Patrick both left Saturday afternoon’s NHL game against the Philadelphia Flyers in the second period. As a result, Delmore was promoted and should play today against the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh, N.C.

The Sabres phoned Amerks coach Randy Cunneyworth on the bus to inform him of the recall, and Delmore was dropped off at the Syracuse airport.

The Amerks continued to Binghamton, but for the second game in a row the offense was stagnant. They were outshot 28-14 through two periods (31-23 in the game). Norm Milley scored the only Rochester goal.

In three road games since Wednesday, the Amerks have been outshot 99-66. They have one tie and two losses in the three games and wrap up the four-game trip with today’s 5 o’clock game against the Toronto Roadrunners.

Laich scored the only goal in the first period, steering in Brad Tapper’s pass at 13:17.

Milley tied the score at 14:17 of the second period with his 13th goal and sixth in 11 games.

But Laich retaliated only 2:35 later, jamming in a loose puck after an Alexandre Giroux wraparound.

Charlie Stephens, acquired Friday in a trade with the Hershey Bears for tough-guy winger Dennis Bonvie, scored the clinching empty-net goal with 1:26 to play.