Binghamton takes advantage of home-cooking
To say the Binghamton Senators have dug themselves a hole would be an understatement. The defending Calder Cup champions currently have 20 wins and 42 points, landing them fifth in the five-team East Division. They took long strides in their climb back into the playoff hunt in January, winning six of 10 games.
That’s including a stellar month of January that saw them play eight home games. They posted a record of 6-4 overall, including a four-game losing streak early in the month, followed by a four-game win streak, heading into the All-Star break.
Andre Petersson played a major role in Binghamton’s January success. He tallied 15 points for the month, including eight goals. He has scored in nine consecutive games and currently has a seven game goal streak at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena.
His efforts did not go unnoticed. He was named the Reebok/AHL Rookie of the Month of January and currently leads the B-Sens with 16 goals.
While Petersson had a month to remember, Jim O’Brien deserves credit as well. Since returning from a hand injury that saw him miss extended time, O’Brien has found his stride. He had a stretch late in the month that saw him score three goals in five games, including two-short-handed markers in a week. All three goals were game-winners.
Jim O'Brien was recalled by the Ottawa Senators.
The BSens continue to get offensive production from mid-season acquisition Rob Klinkhammer. Klinkhammer leads the Senators in points and has racked up 28 points in 26 games with the Binghamton Senators.
Another January highlight was the return of defenseman Patrick Wiercioch. He was struck in the throat by a puck back on December 9th and returned to the lineup January 29th, after missing 19 games. Wiercioch looked comfortable and said he felt pretty good out on the ice.
He did not play in the teams’ final game before the All-Star break, the next night.
Binghamton’s Corey Locke and rookie Mark Borowiecki were named to the Eastern Conference All-Star squad. B-Sens bench boss Kurt Kleinendorst was an assistant coach in Monday’s game in Atlantic City.
For Locke, it was his sixth All-Star appearance. He was credited with an assist on a goal scored by Kyle Palmieri of the Syracuse Crunch. It was Locke’s 12th point in his six all star games.
Binghamton continued to battle injuries throughout the month, including Captain Mark Parrish and veteran defenseman Tim Conboy, along with goaltender Robin Lehner. They also lost Petersson and Borowiecki, for a couple games as they were called up to Ottawa.
Defenseman Dan Henningson was called-up on January 18th, when Borowiecki went to Ottawa. Henningson had an assist in each of his first two games with Binghamton.
Mike McKenna played very well between the pipes in Lehner’s absence. He won three straight games to end the month and now has record of 13-12, after getting off to a rough start. He has a goals-against average of 2.89 and a save-percentage of .919.
Prior to their final game before the All-Star break on the Saturday, the 28th, Binghamton traded Winger Max Gratchev to the Springfield Falcons for future considerations. Last week, Binghamton sent forward Corey Cowick to the Elmira Jackals of the East Coast Hockey League. He has played 44 games for Binghamton this season, tallying four goals and five assists.
The B-Sens (20-25-2-1) opened the month of February with losses in Manchester and last night in Portland.
Don is a credentialed writer, covering the Binghamton Senators on Examiner.com.
There is no reason to count them out at this point, but both Kleinendorst and the players admit they have dug themselves a massive hole. They are running out of games and this weekend didn't help, getting only one of a possible three points.
@jd - Lehner has the talent, he showed that with his MVP performance in the playoffs last year. That said, he has been inconsistent. Injuries and a suspension certainly haven't helped.
His strenghths are his lateral movement and quick reaction time. As I said, he has the talent to be in the NHL, but this year has set him back a bit. He will get there eventually, but he also has to work on keeping his emotions in check.
I agree w/ you on Petersson, he has played lights out down here in January especially. I think he will get another shot soon, but I also would hate to see him go up there and struggle because his confidence is sky high now and the NHL has a way of humbling a guy in a hurry.
Glad you enjoyed and thanks to Don for helping out with this feature. Much appreciated!
I forgot to welcome don so welcome Don looking forward to ur next post
Zbad, being a center has to either convert to wing, or outplay turris for the 2nd line C, or else his potential will be wasted on the 3rd line or lower, on the senators. He could turn out to be a solid player in a few years, built in roughly the same mold as nash. But then he could be a bust too. Greening has proven what everyone knows, you take passes from spezza, and you will score above potential...(re ad: heatley). But can be depth, youth and strength in columbus. A 1st is tough to lose as it moves us back to our 3rd round pick as a first selection.
I think the deal works, might have to be sweetened with a depth defenceman(plea se take gonchar instead!). It gives ottawa something they desperately need, and Nash is still only 27, working at the same age and contract as spezza roughly. We have the cap space. And aside from karlsson, not much in terms of salaries going up next year. Count that alfie may only have one more year, and the money works for us, And columbus makes room.
Maybe there are different offers we make, but i suggest we stir up all the fans and get it in the mind of murray to take a look and see what it takes to land nash. Normally i'd be against selling the farm, and trading assets, but a player like nash doesn't come around often.
Nope. Doing that as well. Tom wrote something from the All Star Draft but I had already posted an article on it. Just waiting for his next contribution!
zibanejad was back yesterday after missing a couple weeks due to a concussion. he got a low of 13mins. djurgarden played vs brynas (silfverberg's team) and won 6-3. zibanejad managed to get a goal! giving him now i believe 8 points in 16 (and most of the 8 points came in last 12 games)
my personal favorite prospect right now #100 and captain of Brynas IF is jakob silfverberg
(he is usually number 33 however it is Brynas' 100 year anniversary and they decided to make the captain dress that number for this year, heres a picture of it https://p.twimg.com/Ah8aJA-CIAMj7Ev.jpg )
silfverberg is once again one of if not the best players in the SEL with 39points in 39games good for 3rd in the SEL, just to let you know how amazing that is, only 2 players are statistically better (one is 45 in 43 and the other is 46 in 45) no one else is ppg in the SEL. what is even more impressive about silfver's stats is that he is a very responsible 2 way forward. in his 6-3 loss to djurgaden he got an assist.
next up is shane prince, who since being cut from the WJC has been on fire! with 66 points in 41 games, good for 6th in the OHL and most of those ahead of him have played closer to 50games.
similar story with noesen with 59 in 46 but noesen seems to be very very streaky.
peumpel has been out with a concussion since january 5th.
mark stone has been slightly colder since the wjc (mind you he has still played well above a ppg) he is 1point behind with 2 games in hand of the top scoring lead in the WHL with 86 in 48. however stone is back! this past week he got a 2point game followed by a 5 point game.
Jean-Gabriel Pageau has been nothing but outstanding and exceeding all expectations. he is sitting at 23rd in QMJHL in points with roughly 20 less games played compared to the leaders ahead of him. he has 57 in 34.
What is lacking in his game.. that he can't keep a spot in the lineup?
No thanks to him.... Murray needs to SELL.. They need more draft picks... focus on the future. Sens need more young D that can actually handle speed. Gonchar, Phillips & Carkner were just awful last night..
If it were true what would you give up..
Are you a season ticket holder. I am in section 2. Gotta throw props to Jack Downing replacing Cowick. 3 goals in 3 games including his first career AHL.
Penner doesn't stop our chances of getting D, if anything he would potentially fill a top 6 roll that allows us to focus on what you want. I'm honestly far from happy with our forwards..
Penner could probably be had for a 6th round pick. LA would love to get rid of Flapjack. I could see him arrive in Ottawa and throw out his back wolfing down Beavertails.
Murray's hunting this kid down or what ??
Penner is fat, unmotivated, and has put up a total of TWELVE points in 41 games. If you'd move a prospect AND a pick for him then I'm glad you are not B. Murray. If Ottawa really wanted this guy just sign him in the summer for nothing. 1 Year at 2.5 Million with a no pancake eating clause, and has to be a certain weight by training camp condition.
He'll never drop the weight with his endorsement deals with IHop and Aunt Jemima. I'll bet his career is over before the end of the 2013-14 season, he just doesn't give a shit. The only person who could save fat ass"s career would be Gary Roberts, but Penner would quit before putting in the effort. That contract from Kevin Lowe ruined him. Too much, too early, for too little.
The effort was there, the production was not... especially on the wing.
@ timwrx - I was a season ticket holder for five years. Now as a credentialed reporter, it's not needed. I am usually floating around, sometimes in the handicapped section, as I have friends up there.
I am also impressed with Downing, he has shown himself well.
Kyle Quincy is a guy I wouldn't mind seeing in Ottawa, he could be available & not too expensive.
@ BSensEx - you should write everything in bold a la Chirp. Makes you look all official-like! Great read, keep them coming.
You guys cannot be serious. You want to round out our top 6 with this guy?
If people thought the boys looked soft and lazy out on the ice before.... just wait cause if these guys get their wish, you ain't seen nothin yet.
If the Blue Jackets decide to move Rick Nash, it would take at least a top young player, a prospect and a first-round pick. Honestly I really don't see Columbus giving him up being the franchise player and all. I can see them trading Jeff Carter for two forwards to build around Nash though. lol.
Really appreciate the informative feedback you bring to us Sens fans.
We can all read stats but you give us a perspective that stats cannot provide... Thank you
I was wondering what your thoughts are on Gyrba?
We seem to lack the physical type d-man that can move to the speed of today's NHL.
I know he has the physical attributes, but so does Carkner.
Philips used to be able to possess both the size and the speed, but has drastically lost the pace to play at the NHL level.
I believe Borowiecki has the potential, but does Gyrba, who has one more year under his belt, possess both this key attributes of size and speed to play in our top 6?
Again thank you
Gryba definitely has the size, (actually a bit bigger than Boro), but he doesn't play as big as Boro.
That's not a knock on Gryba at all, I think he plays a big D, but I think the reason Boro got his chance a couple weeks ago, is due to his overall game. He really is a tougher presence and can put points on the board.
That said, they both have 3 goals. Boro has four more assists.
In short, they are both talented enough to be there, I just give the edge to Boro.
really love the feedback, and I really love Boro's game, so if you say he is in the same mold as Boro, then he can certainly come in soon and replace some of our D for next year... Happy for Ottawa, may be more missing parts for Bingo next year :)
One other point,
I loved DaCosta's offensive abilities when up in Ottawa.
In your opinion, will he be more of a NHL calibre player next year... or does he remind you more of a Butler, or of more concern for an Ottawa fan, a Corey Locke, who is a great AHL player, but never able to crack an NHL roster...
again really appriciate you insight,
thanks
only if we did that with butler too...but stache's love for him is creeply too strong for him.
Bryan Allen- is he still considered a decent d-man or has time passed him by?
Unfortunately, there's a lot of missing pieces for Binghamton this year, but most fans understand that's the nature of the business.
Honestly, I think Da Costa will get back there next season. He has a wiked shot from the blue line, obviously his go to shot. You can tell he believes he belongs in the NHL and he's not happy to be in Bingo, but he is doing his job and it will pay off.
As far as Butler goes, I am baffled by him. He was a big scorer here in Binghamton, just a very streaky player and he had a great season last year earning him the All-Star call and subsequent MVP I believe.
I really liked him here and half-expected him to be back here, because of his lack of production.
I really hope he finds his game, but I'm wondering if he needs a trip to Binghamton to get his confidence back. Time will tell.
Thanks again really do appreciate the feedback
Patience. Petersson will be getting big minutes in Ottawa before too long. He's a known quantity so there's no need to rush him or "figure out" what he can do. Murray is 100% confident that Petersson will be a top 6 guy (if not top 3) for many years to come.
Better to give ice time to the guys who's future is more a mystery like Greening, Butler et al.
So MacLean "loves" Butler by starting O'Brien over him?
o'brien has gotten what 1 or 2 chances. butler on the other hand... i have lost count.
Thank you, glad to be here.