Sens vs. Admirals 4/2/04 Articles: B-Sens climb to 4th place in East (Friday Night)
April 4, 2004

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

B-Sens climb to 4th place in East

Binghamton notches key victory in Norfolk

BY TRIS WYKES

Correspondent

NORFOLK, Va. -- The Binghamton Senators have more than their share of experienced players and veterans of the AHL wars. But the one who made the difference in Friday's 3-1 victory over the Norfolk Admirals at the Scope Arena is about as callow as they come.

Gregg Johnson, a pro rookie signed out of Boston University less than 10 days ago, notched the winning goal in an effort that leapfrogged the Senators past the Admirals and into fourth place in the East Division.

If the playoffs started today, Binghamton would host Norfolk in a best-of-three qualifying round series with all games at Binghamton. The Senators have five games remaining in the regular season.

Johnson's tally finished a bizarre play that began when he and teammate Charlie Stephens rushed into the Norfolk zone 2-on-1 against defenseman Marty Wilford.

The Admiral picked off Stephens' crossing pass from the right side boards and fired a clearing attempt from the low slot, but the puck struck Norfolk forward Jeff Miles and flipped back over Wilford, landing near the left post. Goaltender Michael Leighton slid across from one pipe to the other, but Johnson roofed a shot under the crossbar for a 2-1 lead seven minutes before the second intermission.

"I had (Johnson) on my back and I didn't have time to look up before I got rid of the puck," said a crestfallen Wilford, whose team hosts Binghamton again tonight before the Senators visit Philadelphia on Sunday. "I was worried he'd pick my pocket and go in to score behind me but then the puck hit Miles' shoulder and came right back past me anyways."

The Senators opened the scoring a minute into the second period following a Leighton save that left the puck sitting just outside his crease. Teammate Matt Ellison cleared the puck up the slot and directly onto the stick of Binghamton's Julian Vauclair at the center point. Vauclair fired back into a mass of players in front of Leighton and the effort caromed into the net off the Senators' Stephens.

Norfolk answered for a 1-1 tie just two minutes later when Brandin Cote jammed a rebound past Senators goaltender Billy Thompson.

Binghamton followed Johnson's winning tally with an empty net goal by Steve Bancroft that sent dozens of Senators boosters in Section 102 into a joyous eruption and Norfolk fans streaming for the exits.