Only one constant in Bingo this year: Success

About a week ago, Bingo beat writer and blogger Michael Sharp documented the adversity through which the Binghamton Senators have, somehow, successfully navigated to get off to their best start in franchise history: Then 21-12-6 (48 points), now 23-13-6 (52 points). He offered a list of some of the things the team has overcome (directly quoting Sharp):

• "Brad Isbister, sold to B-Sens fans as a potential top-six forward here, opts to head to Switzerland, rather than report in training camp.
• "Second-year center Alexander Nikulin, last season's third-leading scorer, and another top-six guy entering the season, threatens to return home to Russia if he is not traded. Eventually, he gets his wish, getting shipped to the Phoenix organization the same day he walks out on the B-Sens.
• "Second-year center Cody Bass, while playing on recall with Ottawa, is lost for the season with a shoulder injury.
• "Rookie forward Kaspars Daugavins chooses to return to juniors in late December. He had just three points in 23 games, but he'd been playing on a line with Josh Hennessy and Ryan Shannon just before his decision.
• "This first half has featured 14 call-ups to Ottawa, most recently goaltender Brian Elliott, an all-star and arguably the team's first-half MVP. It doesn't appear he's returning any time soon.
• "Eight players have missed at least eight straight games with an injury down here. That doesn't include Shannon, who missed time with a concussion while on recall with Ottawa.
• "Brendan Bell and Brian Lee, two top-four defensemen for Binghamton, appear to be sticking in Ottawa. Bell has been there since Nov. 16. Lee has already logged 18 games with the big club.
• "The schedule was ridiculous in November, with two stretches of seven games in 10 days. One stretch included a lengthy trip to Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island. And both came amidst a period of heavy injuries and call-ups."

Although it's not confirmed, it sure looks like Elliott will be in Ottawa for the rest of the season, and one of Bell or Lee will more than likely stick around, as well. Binghamton coach Cory Clouston has taken his fair share of criticism, but he's got to be commended for keeping this team rolling. And Sens GM Bryan Murray and Assistant GM Tim Murray both have to be commended for, at least to date, re-stocking the Senators minor-league pro depth.

WC08: Canada loses final to Russia

In the gold-medal game, Canada gave up two two-goal leads to lose to Russia in overtime by a final score of 5-4. Canada wanted to become the first team to win gold at home in twenty years, and Russia wanted to end their thirteen-year gold drought at the World Championships.

Dany Heatley scored a goal and an assist in the game, extending his tournament-leading points total to 20. He also won the tournament's most valuable player award, but didn't look to enthused. It was obvious he was more upset about the loss.

Although Jason Spezza didn't get any points in the final, his play had improved over the course of the tournament--possibly as his injury became less of an issue.

The final statistics of the Sens' five players in the tournament:

Dany Heatley (CAN): 9GP, 12G, 8A, 20P, 4 PIM, +13, 40 SOG, 16:07 AVG TOI
Christoph Schubert (GER): 6GP, 1G, 2A, 3P, 12 PIM, -2, 11 SOG, 19:36 AVG TOI
Jason Spezza (CAN): 9GP, 1G, 2A, 3P, 0 PIM, +5, 8 SOG, 10:36 AVG TOI
Kaspars Daugavins (LAT): 6GP, 0G, 0A, 0P, 0 PIM, -1, 6 SOG, 7:50 AVG TOI

Martin Gerber (SUI): 3W, 2L, .879 SP, 3.15 GAA, 1A

WC08: Heat continues to be on

Photo from IIHF.com. Used without permission.

Dany Heatley's torrent pace at the 2008 World Championships has continued through the past three games, and he's now got 13 points in the six games played. Jason Spezza, meanwhile, continues to struggle, and his demotion to the fourth-line was not without warrant. Team Canada clinched first place in their pool with a perfect 6-0 record, good for 18 points (three per regulation-time win), and the playoffs begin with a quarter-final rematch with the Norway. Canada barely beat Norway 2-1 in round-robin play.

Dany Heatley: 6GP, 9G, 4A, 13P, 4 PIM +10, 27 SOG, 15:17 TOI
Jason Spezza: 6GP, 1G, 1A, 2P, 0 PIM, +5, 6 SOG, 10:31 TOI

Christoph Schubert, meanwhile, continues to lead his German squad from the back-end, and he's second on the team in average ice time per game. He's also got more points than Spezza, although he is getting significantly more ice time. The Germans finished with a 2-4 record, not good enough for the playoffs, but good enough to steer clear of the relegation round.

Christoph Schubert: 6GP, 1G, 2A, 3P, 12 PIM, -2, 11 SOG, 19:36 TOI

On the Switzerland team, Martin Gerber hasn't been playing as many games as Jonas Hiller and third-stringer Ronnie Reuger are getting some extra playing time. He's still got the team's best numbers, though, in all categories. When Russia and Switzerland play tomorrow in quarter-final play, count on Gerbs getting the start.

Martin Gerber: 3W, 1L, 0G, 1A, 1P, .912 SP, 2.25 GAA

Kaspars Daugavins and his Latvian squad fared about as well as Schubert's German squad, which was likely surprising to many. They finished with two wins (over Slovenia and Norway) and four losses, and stay in the first division of the IIHF.

Kaspars Daugavins: 6GP, 0G, 0A, 0P, 0 PIM, -1, 6 SOG, 7:50 TOI

EDIT: For some reason I wrote that Daugavins was on Slovenia. He's on Latvia. I changed the article so it was right... that's why mainstream media has fact-checkers and proofreading, I guess.

WC08: Switzerland beats France, Germany loses to Finland

After another day at the 2008 World Championships, a couple more Ottawa Senators got some playing time under their belt. Here's the run-down of how they did:

Martin Gerber stopped 24 of 25 shots in a 4-1 victory for Switzerland over France. He out-dueled French goaltender Cristobal Huet, who was the darling of the fans in Quebec City even after being traded from the Montreal Canadiens. The only goal The Gerber allowed was off a shot by Julien Desrosiers the 20:00 mark of the second period. Video review confirmed it crossed the goal line before the buzzer sounded. Switzerland's next game is against Belarus at 1 p.m. on Monday.

Stats: 1GP, 1W, 0L, 1.00 GAA, 0.960 SP

Christoph Schubert made his debut for this year's German national team in a losing effort, dropping the tournament opener 5-1 against Finland. Schubert played more ice time than any skater on either team with 22:29 at the end of the night. He had two shots on goal, and finished -1. Germany's next game is Monday at 7:15 p.m.

Stats: 1GP, 0G, 0A, 0P, 2SOG, -1

Dany Heatley is still leading the tournament with 3 goals and 1 assist, and he'll look to add to that total later today in Canada's game against Latvia. Jason Spezza will be looking to get his first point of the tournament for Canada as well.

EDIT: Thanks to Simon for pointing out that Sens prospect Kaspars Daugavins is playing for the Latvian team. In their opening match against the United States, Daugavins played 12:49 in ice time, had one shot on goal, and was even. He'll be playing against Canada Sunday afternoon.

STATS: 1GP, 0G, 0A, 0P, 1SOG, even