By ,
Published November 20, 2014
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. - Ryan Keller at 13:05 of overtime as the Binghamton Senators advanced to the American Hockey League final with a 4-3 win over the Charlotte Checkers on Wednesday.
Binghamton, the AHL affiliate of the Ottawa Senators, swept the Eastern Conference final in four games.
The Senators will meet the winner of the West final between the Hamilton Bulldogs and the Houston Aeros for the Calder Cup. Houston leads that series 3-1.
Charlotte tied the game on Chris Terry's second goal of the night with 1:24 in the third period but couldn't find the goal to keep their championship hopes alive.
Binghamton is the first team since the 1974-75 New Haven Nighthawks to reach the Calder Cup final after finishing fifth in its division during the regular season.
Ryan Potulny and Andre Benoit each had a goal and an assist for the Senators, while Kaspars Daugavins added a short-handed goal.
Casey Borer had the other goal for Charlotte.
Robin Lehner made 42 saves for Binghamton, winning for the 10th time in the playoffs and fourth straight time in overtime.
Mike Murphy stopped 33 shots for the Checkers.
Binghamton opened the scoring on a power-play goal by Potulny. The Senators centre took a Mike Hoffman pass at the side of the net and ripped a shot by Murphy.
With 21 second remaining in the first and Charlotte on a power play, Daugavins stole the puck in the Charlotte zone, raced down the right-wing and beat Murphy for his 10th goal of the playoffs.
Charlotte got on the board with 2:40 left in the second period. Zach Boychuk fed a pass across the crease that hit a stick in front, where Terry batted the puck out of mid-air, into the back of the net.
The Checkers tied the game 1:19 later, when a point-shot by Borer found its way through traffic and past Lehner.
Benoit put the Bulldogs back up by a goal, scoring on a power play 4:44 into the third period.
Terry tied the game late, finishing a forehand-to-backhand deke in close on Lehner.
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/ottawa-senators-ahl-affiliate-advances-to-calder-cup-final