Sens-sational

Ryan Potulny scored 3:07 into overtime as Binghamton completed a historic series victory over the Manchester Monarchs, advancing to the division finals with a 6-5 decision in Game 7 at the Verizon Wireless Arena.

The Senators became just the second team in AHL history to win four OT games in one series, the 16th club to successfully come back from a 3-1 series deficit, and the sixth to win Games 6 and 7 of a series on the road.

The series was also the first one in the 75-year history of the AHL to see Games 5, 6 and 7 all go to overtime.

Potulny’s winning goal capped a five-point night, and gave the Senators forward eight goals and 14 points in the series.

Binghamton jumped out to a 3-0 lead before the second period was a minute old, but for the second time in the series saw that advantage erased as Manchester took a 5-4 lead midway through the third.

The Sens got a goal from Erik Condra – his second of the game and of the postseason – with 1:45 left in regulation to force the fifth overtime game of the series (tying another AHL record).

Condra added an assist for three points on the evening, Ryan Keller had two goals and two assists, Bobby Butler scored his fourth goal of the series and Colin Greening and Geoff Kinrade picked up two helpers each for the Senators, who won their first playoff series since reaching the conference finals in 2003.

Bud Holloway, Jake Muzzin, Brandon Kozun, John Zeiler and Dwight King scored for Manchester, which was hosting a Game 7 for the first time in the franchise’s 10-year history.

Robin Lehner, coming off a 51-save effort in Game 6, stopped 32 shots to improve to 3-0. Jeff Zatkoff made 20 saves on 23 shots in relief of Martin Jones (13 saves).

Binghamton will face Portland in the Atlantic Division finals beginning Wednesday night.

Atlantic Division Semifinal – Series “B” (best-of-7)
A2-Manchester Monarchs vs. E5-Binghamton Senators
Game 1 – Thu., Apr. 14 – MANCHESTER 2, Binghamton 1
Game 2 – Fri., Apr. 15 – Binghamton 4, MANCHESTER 3 (OT)
Game 3 – Sun., Apr. 17 – Manchester 5, BINGHAMTON 4 (OT)
Game 4 – Tue., Apr. 19 – Manchester 6, BINGHAMTON 3
Game 5 – Wed., Apr. 20 – BINGHAMTON 5, Manchester 4 (OT)
Game 6 – Fri., Apr. 22 – Binghamton 2, MANCHESTER 1 (2OT)
Game 7 – Sat., Apr. 23 – Binghamton 6, MANCHESTER 5 (OT)