Senators Articles: Shaky offense, quiet forwards concern B-Sens; Team looks for consistency with playoff spot on the line
April 1, 2004

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

Shaky offense, quiet forwards concern B-Sens

Team looks for consistency with playoff spot on the line

BY SCOTT LAUBER

Press & Sun-Bulletin

BINGHAMTON -- To take their best shot at making the Calder Cup playoffs, the Binghamton Senators know they must allow fewer shots. Giving up 48 to Manitoba and 46 against Rochester are simply too many.

But one goal in three games from the forwards is hardly enough, and that was the most urgent issue facing the Senators as they boarded a bus Wednesday for Norfolk and back-to-back games with major playoff implications Friday and Saturday nights.

"One goal from your forwards isn't going to win you a lot of games," coach John Paddock said. "Guys who are expected to score have to produce."

Paddock pointed his finger squarely at centers Charlie Stephens and Chris Kelly and wingers Cory Pecker, Denis Hamel and Brad Tapper, whose first-period marker last Wednesday night against Manitoba represents the only goal scored by a Senators forward in the past three games.

All-star defenseman Julien Vauclair scored twice and Steve Bancroft recorded a third-period goal from the blue line last Friday night in Syracuse before the Senators were blanked by Philadelphia Phantoms goalie Antero Niittymaki on home ice one night later.

"It's great when the D-men score because that means you've got a deep team, but the forwards haven't done the job lately," Hamel said. "Every forward knows it. When you score one goal, you can't win any games, so we have to at least put a few more pucks in the net."

Entering this week, the Senators were leading the East Division and tied for second in the AHL's Eastern Conference with 199 goals, an average of 2.69 per game in a league in which goals per game are more scarce than in any season since 1937-38.

Hamel, who leads the Senators with 28 goals (seven empty-netters) and 63 points, has embodied the team's offensive inconsistency. After opening the season with 11 goals in 16 games, he went 15 games without scoring. Seven goals in the next 10 games followed before Hamel scored three goals in his next 20.

"We're near the top in goals in the conference, but all year it seems like we go dry, score for a while, then go dry again," Paddock said.

That happens to teams that don't have a natural scorer. Without Brad Smyth, Antoine Vermette and Jason Spezza -- the threesome that helped the Senators to a first-place finish last season -- offensive dry spells were bound to be longer and more frequent.

"This time of year especially, it's very tough to score goals," Tapper said. "Every time our line was on the ice against Syracuse, they had (top defensemen Paul) Traynor and (Zenith) Komarniski out there. That's why we need everyone to step up."

Still, the Senators have been focusing this week's practices on tightening the defense after being outshot in 25 of their last 30 games and allowing 30 or more shots in seven of the last nine.

During their last two-game trip to Norfolk in late February, the Senators were outshot, 63-24, although it appeared they took more shots that were not credited by the Admirals' off-ice officials.

"I've always believed offense comes from good defense," winger David Hymovitz said. "If you take care of business in your own end, that will help create offense."

Slap shots: Ottawa goalie Patrick Lalime skated lightly in practice Wednesday but is doubtful to play until after this weekend. Unless his status changes, two-time AHL all-star Ray Emery will stay with Ottawa and rookie Billy Thompson will start both games in Norfolk. The B-Sens have called up Andrew Allen from Trenton of the East Coast Hockey League to back up Thompson. ... Rugged right wing Brian McGrattan (concussion) and defenseman John Jakopin (groin) have been practicing this week and are probable for Friday night.