Sens vs. Admirals 4/2/04 Articles: Sens Slip Past the Admirals 3-1
April 2, 2004

Posted by: Bob Howard
Credit: Binghamton Senators.com

Sens Slip Past the Admirals 3-1

Gregg Johnson’s first professional goal with 6:55 left in the second period snapped a 1-1 tie and lifted the Binghamton Senators to a critical 3-1 win over the Norfolk Admirals Friday in front of 3,745 fans at The Scope.

Johnson, skating in just his second game with the Senators following the completion of his senior season at Boston University, tucked a backhanded shot under the crossbar at 13:05 of the middle period following a bobbled Norfolk clearing attempt in front of their own net for a 2-1 lead.

Charlie Stephens drew the only assist on Johnson’s goal for his second point of the night. His first came when he deflected a Julien Vauclair drive past Admiral goaltender Michael Leighton (16 saves) sixty seconds into the second period for Binghamton’s first lead at 1-0.

The goal was the 17th of the year for Stephens and he would round out his fifth three-point performance of the season assisting on Steve Bancroft’s empty-netter with 28.2 seconds left in the game.

Billy Thompson moved his record to 4-1-1 in his last six appearances by stopping 27 of 28 shots to snap Binghamton’s three-game losing streak and push the Sens past the Admirals and into fourth place in the East Division.

Thompson was sharp all night, but was most noticeable in the third period when defensive lapses gave the Admirals chance after chance to tie the game. Ten of Thompson’s 27 saves came in the final period as he held the lead for the Sens until Bancroft iced the contest with just under a half a minute to go.

Brandin Cote scored the only Norfolk goal at 2:51 of the second period before Johnson notched the game-winner just over ten minutes later.

The Sens and the Admirals will battle again tomorrow night at The Scope in a 7:30 faceoff before Binghamton closes out the three-game weekend road trip with a 5:05 contest in Philadelphia Sunday.