Binghamton Senators At Lehigh Valley Phantoms: Game Preview

The Binghamton Senators complete their two home and home series tonight with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in another important divisional tilt as the Sens are currently in third place in the East, one point up on the Phantoms. Tonight’s contest kicks off another three games in four night’s for Binghamton with two to follow on home ice this weekend.

(12-10-2-1, 27 pts) 3rd in East Division

AT

(11-10-3-1, 26 pts) 4th in East Division

7:05 PM

PPL Center

RADIO: 96.9 FM, 680 AM. AHL Live

MATCH-UP HISTORY

The Senators took the first ever game between the two clubs 3-1 last Friday in Binghamton.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Brandon Manning, LV – Leads the Phantoms with 17 points (6 goals 11 assists in 23 gms) and is playing in his fourth year for the Flyers Organization. The 24-year-old defenseman was a free agent signing and has played in 12 career games in the NHL.

Derek Grant, BNG – In Saturday’s 5-2 loss to the Bears Grant had notched a pair of goals and now has 9 goals and 5 assists in 25 games and a +6. He will be relied on more than ever with Jean-Gabriel Pageau up with the big club as he has five points in his last five games (3g, 2a).

THREE KEYS TO THE GAME

1. #1 Center is Gone Long Term?- Only the Ottawa Senators know where Pageau will end up after his recall on Sunday. As for the immediate future, Luke Richardson is surely going to be shuffling through the line up once again in finding a replacement as that’s a big hole to fill.

2. Will Hershey Loss Carry Over? – With the two teams involved in a fight filled night last Saturday in combining for 114 PIM, will Lehigh Valley follow suit and shake off the Senators game plan like Hershey so effectively did or will Binghamton be on its toes in anticipation?

3. 1st Ever Game in Allentown, PA – How will this effect the Senators is anyone’s guess with a brand new ice rink seating 8,578 to play in as the Phantoms are 7-2-2-1 at PPL Center clashing with Binghamton’s respectable 6-7-0-0 road record.

B-SENS TWEET OF THE GAME

*Cover Art Courtesy of SenShot’s Graphic Artist Matt Trayling