Binghamton Senators Pre-Game Edition: Host Norfolk Admirals

The traditional New Years Eve game takes place tonight at the Arena as the first place Senators host the Norfolk Admirals as the AHL’s hottest team winning their last four in a row. Right behind them is the team they’re playing, as the Admirals have won three straight of their own to keep pace in the always tight East Division race with two points separating three teams from first to third place. Nathan Lawson (0.928%) should get the start in quest for win #12 of the season as he is currently 1/100th of a percentage point behind Iowa Wild’s Darcy Kuemper (0.929%) for the overall save percentage goal keeper in the league.

(18-9-0-3) 39 pts

/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter#sthash.eiDTkNPD.dpuf(8-4-0-0) 16 pts

First in East Division

VS.

(16-11-1-4) 37 pts

Third in East Division

B-Sens Projected Lineup

Forward Lines

Hoffman-DaCosta-Stone

Prince-O’Brien-Petersson

Puempel-Grant-Schneider

Dziurzynski-Hamilton-Robinson

Defensemen

Borowiecki-New

Sdao-Claesson

Blood-Wideman

Goaltenders

Lawson / Hammond

Scratches

Injured Reserve:

Healthy: Forwards Darren Kramer and Corey Cowick, Defenseman Tyler Eckford.

Notes & Observations

• Rookie netminder John Gibson (10-8-3, 2.63) now shares the goaltending duties with ex-Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins goalie Brad Thiessen (1-1-0, 1.94). Thiessen signed on with Norfolk on Nov. 28 as he began the season with HIFK of Finland’s SM-liiga, appearing in 15 games, and was released by the club on Nov. 19. Don’t be surprised if he gets the start tonight.
• This streaky Senators team also have individuals of their own as Cole Schneider has a current seven game point streak (5g 6a), Mark Stone has a five game (4g 2a) and both Mike Hoffman (3g 3a) and Stephane Da Costa (2g 3a) each have a four game point streak. Lawson looks for his fourth straight win and the team’s third home win in a row would cap it all off.
• Luke Richardson recently mentioned how well 16, 24 and 27 play together to The Press & Sun-Bulletin;

"They are probably one of the best lines in this league; it’s fortunate for us to have them. They can set a tone at the beginning of the game, the middle of the game, or when you need them on the power play..they can really make plays. It’s definitely a luxury for me to have them as a coach."

• Binghamton is second in goals scored averaging (3.57 30gms) behind Grand Rapids (3.61 31gms). Norfolk is 12th (2.91 32gms). B-Sens are fourth in the league in shots averaging (33.17 30gms) while the Admirals are in 28th position (27.19 32gms).

Three Cogs in the Machine

Norfolk: Forwards Rickard Rakell (8g 14a 26gms) and Max Friberg (9g 9a 32gms), Defenseman Alex Grant (6g 7a 27gms).

Binghamton: Forwards Hoffman (15g 18a 28gms), Da Costa (9g 18a 27gms) and Stone (9g 9a 19gms).

Head-to-Head Results

The Admirals have split the first two games down in Virginia as the two clubs play game three of eight this season with tonight’s contest the first in Binghamton.

B-Sens Tweet of the Day

Media Coverage

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