Bingo Train

(source: blog.unitedwaytnc.ca)

With the rebuild in full swing, and injuries piling up, the express-way from the Binghamton Senators to Ottawa is getting very busy. With Mike Fisher, Chris Kelly and Jarkko Ruutu now gone via the trade route, Ottawa also has five others out with bumps and bruises. With captain Daniel Alfredsson and Jesse Winchester missing up front, Sergei Gonchar and Chris Campoli being injured last game against the Isles, and nobody knowing the whereabouts of Pascal Leclaire, Ottawa is in serious need of warm bodies for tonight’s game.

With Bobby Butler already in Ottawa (and with four points in his last two games) and Erik Condra playing his first NHL this past Tuesday, Ottawa has called up forwards Colin Greening and Francis Lessard  and defenceman Andre Benoit. In Greening and Lessard, Ottawa seems to be preparing for a rough evening against the Bruins tonight.

Benoit on the other hand will be playing in his first NHL game of his career. A journeyman in the AHL, Beniot has played six seasons at the lower levels since leaving junior hockey. Having not been drafted, Benoit signed with the Canadiens organization and played three seasons with the Hamilton Bulldogs before joining Binghamton this off-season. He also had stints in Sweden and Finland.  Here is video of Benoit talking about finally getting call up to the show courtesy of SensTV.

Benoit is having a great season for Bingo as he has six goals and 31 assists through 56 games. He has been the B-Sens best defenceman all year. Good to see a guy get reawarded for his hard work. And who knows, he may be this year’s Matt Carkner story.

Good luck to all the new faces.