Binghamton wins preseason opener

Binghamton parlayed four power-play goals into a 4-2 win over Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Saturday night at the Broome Community College Ice Arena. It marked the first contest of the AHL’s 2009 preseason slate.

Rookie Max Gratchev tallied a pair of goals and an assist for the Senators, while Jason Bailey and Colton Yellow Horn also scored. Keegan Dansereau and defenseman Travis Gawryletz each chipped in with two assists in the victory.

The Senators, who led the AHL with a 22.7 percent power play conversion rate last season, finished 4-for-10 with the man advantage on Saturday. Binghamton’s penalty-killing unit, meanwhile, was a perfect 7-for-7.

Goaltender Chris Holt, who joined Binghamton in the offseason from the St. Louis Blues organization, stopped 13 of 15 shots to pick up the win in his debut for the Senators.

The Penguins initially took a 1-0 lead just two minutes into the game when first-year pro Chris Cloud lit the lamp, and Blair Yaworski tallied an unassisted goal for the Pens at 5:19 of the third frame.

The East Division rivals will square off for a rematch on Sunday afternoon at the Wachovia Arena in Wilkes-Barre.