B-SENS SHARING THE BIG CLUB’S OFFENSIVE WOES
Binghamton has adopted the same structured system the Ottawa team has
Like father, like son?
When it comes to scoring issues within the Ottawa Senators organization, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
A four-goal first-period explosion Friday against Albany came as a welcome relief for the previously offensively-challenged Binghamton Senators.
Before Friday, they had scored only 20 goals in 12 games, the worst output in the American Hockey League. They had gone seven consecutive games without scoring more than two in a game and the outburst against Albany marked the first time they had scored more than three goals in a game this season. Sound familiar? Is it more than a coincidence that the B-Sens have adopted precisely the same structured system as the parent Senators?
“We’re all scratching our heads a little bit,” Binghamton coach Kurt Kleinendorst told Postmedia. “A lot of the issues are the same as the big boys right now. Up there, Craig (Anderson) has been phenomenal. Our goalies (Chris Driedger and Matt O’Connor) have been pretty good, but we’re not giving them a whole lot of help and we’re not playing with the same amount of confidence.”
Unlike the NHL squad that has delivered a 10-6-1 start and an early playoff spot, the inability to score consistently has left Binghamton reeling. They entered the contest Friday with a 3-8-1 record, tied with Utica for rock bottom in the AHL.
As the Senators seek help to fill their injury void for the game Saturday against Florida — general manager Pierre Dorion, assistant general manager Randy Lee and goaltending coach Pierre Groulx were all in Binghamton Friday night — expectations of a call-up creating a major offensive spark should be limited.
Casey Bailey (four goals, one assist) and Phil Varone (two goals, three assists) are at the top of the team’s scoring list, followed by Mike Blunden (three goals, one assist) and Francis Perron (two goals, two assists).
Nick Paul, who scored two goals and three assists in 24 games in Ottawa last season, has but one assist in 12 games with Binghamton.
And then there’s Curtis Lazar, who was assigned to Binghamton after missing training camp because of mononucleosis.
While Lazar has scored just two goals and one assist in his first 12 AHL games, Kleinendorst says he has turned a corner in recent weeks.
“At first, he was half a step behind and that’s because he had been sick and missed so much time,” the coach said of Lazar, who played 133 games with the Senators in 2014-15 and 2015-16.
“With somebody in his situation, it’s not about numbers. He’s playing in all situations, 18 minutes per night.”
Kleinendorst suggests many people underestimate how tough it is to play in the AHL. The play is far less polished and there are more breakdowns because the skill level isn’t as high as the NHL.
“Up there, there’s almost no such thing as a bad pass because guys suck them in and everybody is usually in the right position,” he said.
Dorion and company have some tough decisions to make, based on the immediate needs in Ottawa. At this point, Lazar may or may not be part of the answer.
Selfishly, Kleinendorst says he would prefer Lazar to be called up “later rather than sooner.” Once Lazar is called back to the big leagues, Kleinendorst suggests he won’t likely be going south again.
“I love that kid,” he said. “He embraces it.”