Sens vs. Admirals 2/28/04 Articles: B-Sens play better, but not well enough
February 29, 2004

Posted by: Bob Howard
Credit: Tres Wykes of Press Connects.com

B-Sens play better, but not well enough

Binghamton loses at Norfolk

BY TRES WYKES

Correspondent

NORFOLK, Va. -- A pair of losses wasn't the type of weekend the Binghamton Senators were looking for against the Norfolk Admirals at the Scope Arena.

Not after entering the two-game series on a three-game losing streak.

Not when locked in a four-way race with Norfolk, Hershey and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for the East Division's last three playoff berths.

But two setbacks was what the Senators were left with after Saturday's 3-1 defeat. Combined with Friday's 6-1 loss, it left a sour taste for the red, white and black, but coach John Paddock said at least his troops looked a little more inspired in the rematch.

"Last night was embarrassing to be a part of, but tonight we played better," said the coach, whose team has lost five in a row and won only two of its last 11 games. "At least we competed and fought tonight."

Literally, at times. The game featured three bouts and countless instances of ill will. But in the end, the Senators' aggressiveness didn't matter on the scoreboard and the visitors slumped in their dreary dressing room.

"They're frustrated, but as long as we get effort we can look ourselves in the mirror at the end of the game," said Paddock, whose club continues a six-game road trip today at Hershey. "But we couldn't live with last night."

Pavel Vorobiev gave Norfolk a 1-0 lead in the first period. The Senators clawed back for a tie in the second when Brian McGrattan sent a pass from below the goal line on the left side out to David Hymovitz in the low slot. Hymovitz took the pass on his forehand at the left post, switched to his backhand and scored at the right post.

Norfolk pulled away with goals by Anton Babchuk and Mikhail Yakubov three minutes before and after the second intermission. But the hosts tipped their helmets to their scrappy foes.

"They probably won more of the battles than we did tonight, but in the last 10 minutes we really buckled down and buried them," said Norfolk's Quintin Laing, whose team is fourth in the East Division, five points ahead of fifth-place Binghamton.