Sens vs. Phantoms 4/4/04 Articles: Sens Win OT Thriller In Philly 3-2
April 5, 2004

Posted by: Bob Howard
Credit: Binghamton Senators.com

Sens Win OT Thriller In Philly 3-2

Julien Vauclair’s ninth goal of the season 3:51 into overtime capped a three-goal comeback to lead the Binghamton Senators to a 3-2 win over the first place Philadelphia Phantoms Sunday in front of 10,951 fans at Wachovia Spectrum.

Vauclair’s drive from the high slot beat Antero Niitymaki (24 saves) over the glove hand to give the Sens their first ever regular season come-from-behind victory when trailing after two periods of play.

The win snapped the Phantoms season-high six-game winning streak and reduced Binghamton’s magic number to clinch a playoff berth to three as the Senators moved back into fourth place, a point ahead of the idle Norfolk Admirals.

After the Sens lost leading scorer Denis Hamel to injury just 6:05 into the game, Philadelphia scored twice in a 2:31 span late in the opening period to take a 2-0 lead into the first intermission break.

Peter White set up Kirby Law for his team-leading 30th goal of the season off of a 2-on-1 rush to open the scoring at 16:20.

Kirk Furey then blasted a right wing shot past a screened Ray Emery (39 saves) with 1:09 left in the period for the Phantoms’ largest lead of the game.

Binghamton’s comeback began midway through the second period on the heels of a two-minute, two-man disadvantage the Sens killed off following calls against Cory Pecker (cross checking) and David Hymovitz (unsportsmanlike conduct) at 7:44.

Brad Tapper, camped out on the top edge of the Philadelphia crease, redirected an Arpad Mihaly centering pass behind Niittymaki to cut the lead to 2-1 at 10:26 to end the scoring in the second period.

A tripping call to the Phantoms’ Freddy Meyer with 1:14 left in the second period carried over and allowed the Sens to notch the equalizer on the power play just twenty-five seconds into the third period.

Charlie Stephens threw a pass out front to Pecker, who snapped a quick shot between the pads of Niittymaki, tying the game at 2-2 and setting the stage for overtime.

With the win, the Sens took the season series from the Phantoms 4-2, winning all three games played at the Wachovia Spectrum.

The Sens now have 78 points with three games remaining in the regular season. Binghamton will finish their four-game roadtrip Wednesday in Wilkes-Barre against the Penguins before returning home to face Norfolk Friday and Rochester Saturday at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena.