Senators Article: B-Sens unlikely to get boost from Ottawa
April 11, 2004

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

B-Sens unlikely to get boost from Ottawa

BY SCOTT LAUBER

Press & Sun-Bulletin

BINGHAMTON -- All the buzz this week in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., has centered on the Penguins' reinforced roster. With Pittsburgh missing the NHL playoffs, goalie Sebastien Caron, defenseman Brooks Orpik and wingers Konstantin Koltsov and Tom Kostopoulos were sent down to play for the Calder Cup.

That has prompted discussion of whether the Binghamton Senators will receive similar help from their big brother in Ottawa.

"Do I want to ask? I do," Binghamton coach John Paddock said this week about the chance wingers Josh Langfeld and/or Antoine Vermette might be sent back to the minors. "But right now, with the playoffs, I don't even think it's appropriate."

Unlike Pittsburgh, Ottawa's season is still very much alive. Ottawa is immersed in what is being called the "Battle of Ontario", an emotional first-round series with the archrival Toronto Maple Leafs. After Thursday night's 4-2 Ottawa victory, the teams played Game 2 Saturday night in Toronto.

Vermette skated in the playoff opener and was scheduled to dress again Saturday night in place of center Jason Spezza, a surprise scratch. Langfeld has not yet played, and since he is on the Baby Senators' playoff roster, he is eligible to be sent down.

But at the moment, it does not appear there is any talk of that happening.

OBSTRUCTED VIEW

Denis Hamel is finding it difficult to play behind bars.

Hamel, the Senators' leading scorer, played the past two games with a full shield attached to his helmet after suffering severe facial lacerations when a puck struck him in the face last Sunday night in Philadelphia.

"I didn't expect it would be this hard," Hamel said after putting three shots on goal in Friday night's 3-0 loss to Norfolk. "For the last seven years, I didn't have anything screening me, and it is hard to get used to."

SLAP SHOTS

A report in Saturday's Ottawa Sun indicated the Senators have considered signing forward Patrick Eaves, their No. 1 pick in last year's NHL draft. Eaves, 19, just completed his sophomore season at Boston College. It seems doubtful, however, that Eaves would be sent here. ... Defenseman Christoph Schubert replaced rookie Neil Komadoski in the lineup. ... The Senators tied a single-season Binghamton AHL record with their 18th sellout. ... Several of the Binghamton Mets were signing autographs after their 6-5 victory over the Norwich Navigators.