Sens vs. Moose 3/24/04 Preview: Emery in or out of tonight's match up; final meeting of 4
March 24, 2004

Posted by: Bob Howard
Credit: Binghamton Hockey.net

Tonight the Binghamton Senators host the Manitoba Moose at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena as the two teams close out their four games series for the season. In the previous three meetings between the two teams both have won a game, lost a game and captured a tie (1-1-1-0). This will be the final visit for the Moose who have seen success here in Binghamton with their win on December 10th of 2003, blanking the Senators 3-0.

The continued big story making the rounds for the Senators is whether or not All Star and recent Ottawa call-up Ray Emery will be available for the game tonight. Reports have indicated that Emery will be in uniform for the Binghamton Senators but a decision will be made near game time on whether he will get the start vs. the Moose or whether red hot back up Billy Thompson (4-1-1) will get the start for the Senators. Emery has been playing back up to Patrick Lalime in Ottawa while Ottawa's normal back up goal Martin Prusek rests his sore back.

Last game between the Senators and the Moose was that December 10th meeting here at the Arena where the Moose stomped over the Senators, 3-0. In the game, Binghamton back up Billy Thompson was in goal for the Senators giving up all 3 goals to the Moose by the time the teams got past the 10:05 mark in the second. Thompson then shut the doors on the Moose hoping for the Senators offense to then wake up. The moose got their goals from the sticks of Jaroslav Obsut in the first period, and then Brandon Reid and Nolan Baumgartner scored the two goals in the second period. Tyler Moss, now with the Toronto Roadrunners, was in goal for the Moose recorded the shut out and stopped all 34 shots that the Senators sent his way.

The Senators in their last six games are still 4-1-1 and are winners of their last three games. Those three wins have come vs. first place Bridgeport (3-1) and twice vs. the Albany River Rats (5-4 OT & 5-4) two Sunday’s ago & last Friday. The other three games has the Senators skating to a tie with Wilkes-Barre (4-4) two Saturday's ago, a loss to Rochester (5-3) on two Friday's ago and beating Rochester (1-0) in Binghamton on March 10th.

The Moose are 3-3-0 in their last six games with the three wins coming vs. Syracuse (5-4), Toronto (3-2) and vs. last place Albany (3-0). Manitoba has lost to and including their last game from Sunday vs. Rochester (5-2), Hamilton (5-2) on March 15th and on Saturday, March 13th they lost to Toronto (3-0).

After tonight's game vs. the Binghamton Senators, the Manitoba Moose will finish out their season with a six game home stance. In that home stance they will face Rochester two more games, St. John's two more games and will then close out the season on April 8th and 10th vs. Hamilton.

The Senators who are fighting for a playoff position in the East will head to Syracuse on Friday, then host the Philadelphia Phantoms on Saturday before having four days off and going on a two day, two game trip to Norfolk next Friday and Saturday.

Denis Hamel leads the Senators in all three categories with 62 (28+34) points. Ray Emery (20-19-5) should be in town for tonight's game but it will be a game time decision on whether or not he will make the start. Emery has 2.51 goals against average and a .920 save percentage on the season. Back up, Billy Thompson has a record of 12-13-2 with 2 shut outs on the season. Thompson has a 2.95 goals against average and a .904 save percentage playing in 31 games in his rookie season.

Brandon Reid leads the Moose this year in total points with 53 (18+35). Reid teammate Fedor Fedorov has the team lead in goals with 21 while Reid has the team lead in assists with 35. The goalie situation for the Moose is scary situation right now with Tyler Moss and Alex Auld not playing with the team at the moment. Rob McVicar has played in 7 games for the Moose this year recording a 2-2-2 record. McVicar has a 2.69 goals against average and .922 save percentage in his short stint so far with the team.

At the moment Manitoba (28-33-10-2 68 points) sits seven points out of the playoff race in the North Division trailing 5th place Cleveland (31-25-6-7 75 points). The Binghamton Senators (32-30-7-2 73 points) sit right dab in the middle of the most heated playoff race so far as the Senators are tied with the Norfolk Admirals (32-30-4-5 73 points) for 4th and 5th place in the East. Both teams are only one point behind the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins (30-27-8-6 74 points) with just the Pens and Sens in action tonight.

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

Plus if you haven't all ready, go over and join the chat in Binghamton Hockey.net's message boards, Bingo Talk. Even if you’re a fan of another team, your welcome to join the chat about American League Hockey, the NHL, the Binghamton Senators or anything you want.

Remember, Binghamton Hockey.net is your only complete Hockey source for the Binghamton Senators or Binghamton Hockey. Read articles from the Sens website, the Press & Sun plus any other Binghamton Hockey article posted on the web, right here on Binghamton Hockey.net.