Sens vs. Sound Tigers 3/20/04 Articles: B-Sens thrive behind play of Thompson
March 21, 2004

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

B-Sens thrive behind play of Thompson

Backup goalie shines in beating Bridgeport

BY SCOTT LAUBER

Press & Sun-Bulletin

BINGHAMTON -- For anyone who feared that, without all-star goalie Ray Emery, the Binghamton Senators would be toast, let the last eight games be a lesson. They're in perfectly good hands with rookie Billy Thompson in the net.

Starting once again in place of Emery, who was summoned to Ottawa to back up Patrick Lalime, Thompson stonewalled the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in a 3-1 victory here Saturday night that kept the Senators in a tie with the Norfolk Admirals for the final playoff spot in the AHL's East Division.

"I just can't say enough about Billy Thompson," said winger Brad Tapper, who's rarely at a loss for words. "He stood on his head."

That's usually required of goalies facing the Sound Tigers, the AHL's best defensive team. They allow less than two goals per game, so there's almost no margin for error. Just ask Hartford Wolf Pack goalie Jason LaBarbera, who gave Bridgeport one goal Friday night and still lost.

But Thompson has been playing in pressure-packed situations since March 5 when the AHL suspended Emery for five games. During that stretch, Thompson posted a 2.56 goals-against average and .926 save percentage, and the Senators went 3-1-1.

He kept up his stingy play against Bridgeport, making 35 saves and allowing only a Blaine Down goal on a rocket from the high slot at 10:43 of the third period. That tied the game at 1-1, but Bridgeport winger Steve Webb took a five-minute major for boarding Brian McGrattan 18 seconds later, and the Senators took advantage with Serge Payer's power-play goal at 12:17.

Denis Hamel added his seventh empty-net goal with eight seconds left to account for the final margin, but when it was over, all of the Senators were left talking about Thompson, who said he's "finally getting in a groove" and that he was "definitely fired up for this game."

"We're 6-1-1 since Ray got suspended, and I'll take that any time," coach John Paddock said. "This has been the best thing for (Thompson), to play a lot, and we haven't missed a beat."

Still, there's no goalie controversy here.

Emery, a two-time AHL all-star, remains the organization's top prospect and Binghamton's starter, and he gives the club its best chance to go deep into the postseason. But it's nice to have an insurance policy as airtight as Thompson.

"He's our No. 2 goalie behind Razor (Emery)," defenseman Julien Vauclair said, "but he's playing like a No. 1."