Sens vs. Hershey 2/29/04: Preview: Sens Invade the Giant Center to face old friend, Dennis Bonvie
February 29, 2004

Posted by: Bob Howard
Credit: Binghamton Hockey.net

The Binghamton Senators continue on a six game road trip and their third road game in three days today as they roll into the Giant Center to face against former teammate Dennis Bonvie and the Hershey Bears. This is fourth meeting of the year between the two teams as both teams have notched a win, taken a loss and skated to one tie.

The last game between the two teams was Friday, February 6th in Binghamton at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena when Dennis Bonvie made his first return back to Binghamton after being traded for center, Charlie Stephens. The return for Bonvie did not start very well as the Senators scored four times in the first period from Denis Hamel's shorthanded effort, two goals from Brad Tapper and a goal from Brooks Laich. Brad Tapper never had a chance to try for the hat trick as Hershey's right-winger Shane Willis landed a vicious elbow to a vulnerable Tapper, knocking Tapper out and to the ice. Willis was handed a 5-minute match penalty and was suspended by the American Hockey League five games. Hershey's Steve Brule scored twice in the second period to help the team but Binghamton’s Chris Kelly, Charlie Stephens & Brian McGratten also notched goals to help the Senators score a victory over former teammate Dennis Bonvie. Binghamton's replacement for Bonvie, Mike Brown went toe to toe with Bonvie in the third period as both players received 5-minute fighting majors to help end the show for the 4,717 paying fans that came to see the Bears and Bonvie return to the Arena. On a side note, Brad Tapper has returned to the team after recovering from them the grade 3 concussion he suffered in the game. He skated last night in the 3-1 loss to the Norfolk Admirals for the Senators.

The Senators and Bears played each other six times last season with the Senators having the slight edge in the match-up with a 3-2-1 record. This year the teams have played three times so far with each team having a win, a loss and a tie.

Binghamton are now 1-5 in their last six games with the losses coming vs. Springfield last Sunday (5-3), Monday in Manchester (2-0) four days ago in Binghamton vs. Wilkes-Barre (4-3), Friday night vs. the Admirals (6-1) & last night in Norfolk against the same Admirals (3-1). The Senators last win happened on Saturday, February 21st vs. the Providence Bruins (2-1). The Senators have now lost five straight games.

The Bears have lost four out of their last six games with a win last night vs. Albany (6-3) & a win vs. Bridgeport (1-0). The losses have come the hands of Philadelphia twice back to back (3-0 & 4-1), Portland (4-2) & Rochester (4-3).

The Senators are in the middle of a 6 game road trip that started two nights ago in Norfolk. After today's game in Hershey the Senators will face the Penguins in Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday, Rochester on Friday and to finish out the road trip they will travel to Bridgeport a week from today to play the Sound Tigers. The next home game for the Senators will be vs. the Americans on Wednesday, March 10th when Rochester comes to town.

After today's home game, the Bears will go on a mini road trip facing on the road, the Bruins next Friday, the IceCats next Saturday and a week from today they battle the Lock Monsters in Lowell. The Bears will then return home and face Wilkes-Barre twice, Hartford and Norfolk once in a four game home stance.

Denis Hamel continues to be the Senators top point getter with 50 points (22+28). Another loss to the Admirals puts Senators goalie, Ray Emery at 18-18-5 on the season with three shut outs on the year. Emery’s goals against average going into tonight’s game sits at 2.39 and he has a .923 save percentage. With Emery playing the last two night's in Norfolk, it would not be surprising to see back-up goalie Billy Thompson get the call. Thompson is 8-11-1 on the season with one shut out to his record. Thompson sports a 2.96 goals against average and a .899 save percentage.

Center, Eric Perrin easily leads the Bears in points with 64 (21+43). Young prospect Peter Budaj has played in 40 games in goal for the Bears this season and has a 15-18-6 record with 3 shut outs on the season. Budaj's goals against average is 2.77 and has a .917 save percentage. His back-up's numbers are a little more impressive as Tom Lawson has a 12-10-2 record with 4 shut outs in 29 games played. Even better then Budaj's is Lawson's goals against average, which is 2.26 & has saved 92.2 % of the shots that have come his way.

The Bears (27-24-8-4) sit third in the East division with 66 points and just one point ahead of the hottest team in the AHL, the Norfolk Admirals (28-26-4-5). The Senators (26-27-6-2), loser's of their last five games have 60 points and are tied with Wilkes-Barre Scranton (24-22-7-5) at that 60 point mark.

After tonight's Senators/Bears game come back to Binghamton Hockey.net for an updated East Division standings and a Senators/Bears boxscore and articles about the game.

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