Sens vs. Sound Tigers 3/20/04 Articles: B-Sens stay on top of AHL scoreboard
March 21, 2004

Posted by: Bob Howard
Credit: Scott Lauber of Press Connects.com

B-Sens stay on top of AHL scoreboard

BY SCOTT LAUBER

Press & Sun-Bulletin

BINGHAMTON -- Lately, and with good reason, the Binghamton Senators have been keeping a close eye on the AHL scoreboard.

Firmly entrenched in a four-way battle for three playoff spots in the East Division, the Senators still control their own destiny, assuming they win as many of their nine remaining games as possible. But they can get help from teams playing Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Norfolk and Hershey, too.

"Between periods, (coach) John (Paddock) lets us know what all the scores are," center Serge Payer said Friday night. "We knew it was 2-0 (Philadelphia over Wilkes-Barre/Scranton) after one (period) and 2-2 after two."

And as soon as they had defeated last-place Albany, 5-4, the Senators learned Philadelphia had beaten Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, 3-2 in overtime.

There weren't many updates to be given Saturday night with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Hershey idle. But as they were playing Bridgeport, you could be sure the Senators knew Norfolk was leading Houston, 2-1, after one period. Norfolk won the game, 3-2.

"John keeps us pretty up to date," Payer said.

FEARLESS FORECAST

Asked last week to quantify how much backup goalie Billy Thompson benefited from five straight starts during Ray Emery's most recent suspension, Paddock said, "It's important for him because if (Ottawa goalie Martin) Prusek gets hurt, he's our (starting) goalie."

Sure enough, Prusek's recurring back problem flared up this week, and Ottawa recalled Emery to back up Patrick Lalime, leaving Thompson to start here Saturday night and forcing Binghamton to recall Andrew Allen from Trenton of the East Coast Hockey League.

SLAP SHOTS

Bridgeport, fighting Philadelphia for first place, will be without centers Justin Mapletoft (fractured ankle) and Eric Manlow (broken wrist) for at least the rest of the regular season. ... The Senators are close to getting captain Chris Kelly back from a broken left kneecap. Kelly has been skating hard in practice, and he might play Wednesday against Manitoba. ... Rugged winger Mike Brown and defenseman Christoph Schubert were scratched Saturday night. ... For the second straight game, winger Antoine Vermette was a healthy scratch for Ottawa. ... Saturday night's crowd of 4,717 was the Senators' third straight sellout and 16th in 35 games at the Arena.