B-K connection again lifts Admirals

NORFOLK

Brandon Bochenski scored the game-winning goal and set up the insurance tally as the Norfolk Admirals closed out their nine-day hockey marathon in style by downing Binghamton 4-2 on Saturday at Scope.

Bochenski snapped a 2-2 tie by rifling a point-blank shot through Senators goalie Martin Gerber at 3:43 of the third period. The goal was Bochen-ski's 21st of the season and tied him with Brandon Segal for the team lead.

Then midway through the final period, Bochenski shoveled a backhand pass from his own end to a streaking Justin Keller, who flicked his own backhand top-shelf short side past Gerber.

It was the third time in two games the Bochenski-to-Keller connection clicked at Binghamton's expense.

The victory, coupled with Friday's 5-2 win over the Senators, gave the Admirals consecutive victories to conclude a stretch of seven games in nine days. Norfolk went 4-2-1 over that span.

A pair of Greg Mauldin goals staked the Senators (29-20-5-3) to a 2-0 lead after one period, but Grant Potulny and Blair Jones answered for Norfolk to deadlock the game heading into the final frame.

Zenon Konopka added a pair of assists for Norfolk (23-26-3-5), and rookie goalie Riku Helenius stopped 22 shots to level his record at 4-4.

The game marked the Admirals return of winger Steve Downie, who was sent down from Tampa Bay after an 11-game stint in the NHL. Downie had 25 points in 19 games with Norfolk before his Jan. 26 recall.

The Admirals will return to action Friday against Providence at 7:15 p.m. at Scope.

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ICE CHIPS

Veteran center Chris Gratton, who spent 24 games with Norfolk after 13-plus years in the NHL, was claimed off re-entry waivers by Columbus on Saturday. Gratton had more NHL experience than anyone ever to play for the Admirals (1,068 games).... In addition to Downie, the Admirals also regained the services of defense-man Ty Wishart, who had been with the Lightning on an emergency recall.... Saturday night's crowd of 5,733 was Norfolk's third-largest of the season.... Segal, who came in having scored a goal in five straight games, saw his shot from his own end sail wide of an empty net in the final seconds.