Binghamton Hockey.net - Sens vs. Admirals 10/29/2004 Preview: B-Sens going for revenge against the Admirals

Sens vs. Admirals 10/29/2004 Preview: B-Sens going for revenge against the Admirals
October 28, 2004

Posted by: Bob Howard
Credit: Binghamton Hockey.net

The Binghamton Senators welcome to the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena, the Norfolk Admirals for the first of eight meetings of the 04-05 season. The meeting of the two teams will be the first of 4 at the Arena and is the first time the Admirals are back in town since the two game sweep of the Senators in the qualifying round of the 03-04 Calder Cup playoffs.

April 14th and 16th, earlier this year were the two games in the qualifying round of the 03-04 playoffs when the Norfolk Admirals swept and shut out the B-Sens in two straight 3-0 games. In the first game the Admirals scored a goal in each period taking the Ads to a 1-0 lead in the short series off of goals by Quintin Laing, 2 goals, 1 in the 1st and 1 in the 3rd period and by Brandin Cote who scored in the 2nd period. Michael Leighton stopped all 31 shots that the B-Sens sent his way leading the Ads to their first 3-0 victory at the BCVMA. The second game seemed to mirror the first one with the Ads scoring three off of Johnathan Aitken and Yorick Treille in the 1st period, while Yorick Treille scored his second of the night in the 3rd period to seal the B-Sens playoff hopes. Michael Leighton once again notched a shut out victory in front of the Binghamton Senators fans, not allowing any of the 18 shots that the B-Sens could muster past. The games resulted in one of Binghamton's most disappointing playoff runs in Binghamton's professional hockey history. In the B-Sens franchise history, the Senators have faced the Admirals 12 times with Ads having the edge with 8 wins and only 4 losses. The Senators earned three of their four wins last season as the Sens took 3 of the 8 games played where the Sens only won one game out of four the first season in the franchises first season in the AHL.

The Binghamton Senators have started the 04-05 season with a 3-2 record. With both losses on the road, the B-Sens lost their season opener in Albany (6-2) and this past Sunday in Bridgeport (3-2). The three wins have been at home in the BCVMA and have included a win over the Crunch (4-1), the Hershey Bears (3-2) last Friday and over Hamilton (2-1) last Saturday.

The Norfolk Admirals have started the season off a better note then last year with winning 4 out of the first five games. Their only loss so far this season was to the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins (3-2) last Friday at the Scope in Norfolk. The Ads started the season 2-0 with victories over the Hershey Bears (3-2, 3-0) in two consecutive games and over the Penguins (4-3) on October 20th. After a game in Wilkes-Barre was postponed due to a water main break the Ads went back to work with a win over Albany (2-1) at the Scope just two days ago. After tonight’s game versus Norfolk, the B-Sens will then host Manitoba on Saturday and travel to Wilkes-Barre for their first regular season games versus the Penguins. The B-Sens then play host to three more teams with Albany coming to town on Friday, November 5th, Rochester on Saturday, November 6th and the Admirals on November 10th.

The Admirals will on a their mini road trip with visits in Albany and Hershey next before they play host to the Providence Bruins on Friday, November 5th. The Admirals will then go on a 6 game road trip, which will start with two games versus Wilkes-Barre and their second stop of the season versus the Senators at the Arena.

Antoine Vermette leads the B-Sens with 6 points, tallying 2 goals and 4 assists. Denis Hamel leads the team with 3 goals in the first 5 games of the season. Ray Emery has started and played in 4 games so far this season and has 2-2 record so far. Emery has a 2.97 goals against average and has saved 91 % of the shots opponents have sent his way.

The Admirals leading scorer this season is Rene Bourque, who in 4 games has 6 points (4+2). Leading the teams in assists with 5 is Matt Kieth. Craig Anderson and Michael Leighton have split time in goal with Anderson starting 3 games, earning a win in each, a 1.93 goals against average and a 93.4 saves percentage. Leighton has started 2 games, won 1 and lost 1 with a 1.51 goals against average and a 94.1 saves percentage.

Both the Admirals and the Senators reside in the East division. Norfolk currently sits in second position with Bridgeport with 8 points and a 4-1 record. The B-Sens are 3-2, tied with Philadelphia and with a win over Norfolk and a Phantoms loss would put themselves in a tie with both teams with 8 points after just playing 6 games.

After tonight's Admirals/Senators game come back to Binghamton Hockey.net for an updated East Division standings and a Admirals/Senators boxscore and articles about the game.

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