Sens vs. Crunch 3/27/04 Preview: Kelly returns home for the Sens in a battle vs. the Phantoms
March 27, 2004

Posted by: Bob Howard
Credit: Binghamton Hockey.net

The Binghamton Senators return home to the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena tonight to face East division foes, the Philadelphia Phantoms. This marks the fifth time the teams are facing each other this year and the final time that the Phantoms visit the Arena in Binghamton for the 03/04 regular season. In the previous four meetings this year, the Senators hold a 3-1-0 record vs. the Phantoms with the only loss happening on January 10th in Binghamton when Ian MacNeil scored the game winner in the second period to help the Phantoms to a 2-1 victory. With the series tied at one game a piece at the Arena; tonight's game will be the series decider, as the Senators have won all two games at the Wachovia Spectrum in Philly so far with one more to be played on Sunday, April 4th.

Last night's loss the Crunch (6-3) for the Senators still had one positive come out of the game for the Sens, as Captain Chris Kelly returned to the line-up after being sidelined for six weeks due to a broken knee cap in a game for the Ottawa Senators. Coach John Paddock placed Kelly in a line that featured Kelly at center, team point leader Denis Hamel at left wing and Brad Tapper at right wing. Kelly had one assist last night for the Senators as he assisted on Julien Vauclair's power play goal in the second period of the game. It is expected that Kelly will once again be paired up with Hamel and Tapper tonight in his return to the Arena versus the Phantoms.

The last game between the Senators and the Phantoms happened on February 7th in Binghamton and was dubbed "Hat Trick Hymo Night", as the Senators left winger played a major part in the Senators 6-5 win over the Phantoms. Though this game didn’t have the same intensity as the infamous December 28th brawl that happened in the Wachovia Spectrum in Philly, the game was still on high energy as the two teams managed to put 11 goals up on the scoreboard while an un-expected natural hat trick came in the second period from career ALH'er David Hymovitz. The two teams combined for two goals in the first period with Philadelphia scoring first as Ian MacNeil sent a shot past Senator's goal tender Ray Emery at the 1:15 mark. Half way through the first period, the Senators tied it up at one with a goal from the stick of Brooks Laich as he sent his shot past the Phantoms first goalie of the night, Antero Niittymaki. The second period of the game sparked a flurry of goals starting with the Phantoms only goal of the period when Kirby Law sent one past Emery at the 6:16 mark. From there the Senators had one of their most productive period of the season with goals from Serge Payer at 10:12 and Alexandre Giroux at 15:05 before the natural hat trick by Hymovitz. A natural hat trick is credited not only when a player scores three goals in a game but when the goals are scored in consecutive order in the game. Hymovitz scored his first goal at the 15:22 with the assists from Serge Payer and Greg Watson. His second goal, 38 seconds later came also from a feed sent to him by Payer again. Hymovitz scored his final goal of the night at the 19:20 mark of the second period recording the natural hat trick propelling the Senators to a 6-2 lead before the third period. The Phantoms then controlled the third with three goals from Ian MacNeil, B.J. Abel & Kirby Law only to fall short in the game losing to the Senators, 6-5.

The Senators, now on a two game losing streak, are 3-2-1 in their last six games. The two losses have come from the sticks of Syracuse (6-3) last night and Manitoba (4-1) this past Wednesday. The three wins came in a mini win streak that featured wins vs. Albany (5-4 OT & 5-4) and a win vs. East rival Bridgeport (3-1). The Senators also tied the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins (4-4) on Saturday, March 13th in Wilkes-Barre.

The Philadelphia Phantoms in their last six games are at the 500-mark going 3-3-0 in their last six contests. The Phantoms beat division rival Bridgeport (2-1) last night to end a four game home stance which also included a loss to Grand Rapids (3-2) and two games vs. Wilkes-Barre where they won one (3-2) and dropped one (1-0). While on the road the Phantoms lost to Manchester (3-1) and won versus Portland (2-0) in the last six games.

Tonight the Senators return home to face the Philadelphia Phantoms in the Phantoms last appearance at the Arena. After five days off the Senators will embark on a 3 game, 3 night road trip that will have the Senators playing two games in Scope in Norfolk, Virginia next Friday/Saturday and then completed the 3 game in 3 night series with their final regular season visit to the Wachovia Spectrum to face the Philadelphia Phantoms for the last time. The Senators will then travel to Wilkes-Barre to face the Penguins on April 7th before finishing the season at home on April 9th and 10th vs. the Norfolk Admirals and the Rochester Americans.

After tonight's game versus the Senators at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena the Phantoms return home for a three game home stance. On Sunday Manchester will look to take another game versus an East division team, while Norfolk will come into town on Wednesday, as Hershey will then finish out the Phantom's home stance next Friday. The Phantoms will then travel to Wilkes-Barre for a game versus the Penguins a week from today before entertaining the Senators for the last time at home a week from tomorrow.

Denis Hamel continues to lead the Senators in all three categories with 63 (28+35) points. Ray Emery (20-21-5) made the start last night while taking his 21st loss of the season against the playoff bound Crunch, who clinched last night versus the Senators. Emery has 2.58 goals against average and a .918 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.

Kirby Law leads the Phantoms with 63 (24+39) points on the 03/04 season while fellow teammate Peter White has the team lead in assists with 42. The Phantoms are anchored with two goalies who have combined to play in 10 shut outs, 5 a piece, for the Phantoms. Antero Niittymaki has played in 43 games for the Phantoms recording a record of 20-11-6, a 2.08 goals against average and saving 92 % of the shots sent his way. Neil Little, the Phantoms second goalie has played in 31 games for the Phantoms recording a 19-12-0, a 2.10 goals against average and saving 91.5 % of the shots sent his way.

Misc. #'s
Powerplay - Phi 2nd (63) - Bin T6th (57)
Penalty Killing - Phi T13th (50) - Bin 21st (56)
Points - Phi, Law T6th (63) - Bin, Hamel T6th (63)
Goals - Phi, Law T14th (24) - Bin, Hamel T7th (28)

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