Kurt Kleinendorst has at least worked himself into the conversation in the Senators' search for a new head coach.

The 50-year-old native of Grand Rapids, Minn., led the team's American Hockey League affiliate into its first ever Calder Cup final. The last time a franchise from Binghamton was represented in the AHL championship was 29 years ago, when it was the property the now-defunct Hartford Whalers.

Under Kleinendorst, the Binghamton Senators finished fifth in the East Division with a 42-30-3-5 record. They did so with many of their best players playing in Ottawa after the NHL trade deadline.

Once in the playoffs, Binghamton won its opening-round series against Manchester in dramatic fashion. Trailing the series 3-1, the Senators scored three straight overtime victories. From there, they eliminated the Portland Pirates in six games and the Charlotte Checkers in four straight to earn them a birth in the final, against the Houston Aeros.

After trying three failed attempts at finding his own successor with John Paddock, Craig Hartsburg and Cory Clouston, it's believed Senators GM Bryan Murray is looking for a veteran to lead the troops. Although Kleinendorst has only worked in the NHL for one season, as an assistant with the 2001-02 New Jersey Devils, Murray is impressed with his accomplishments in Binghamton.

He's also happy to have the farm team at the desired level.

"A few years back we weren't very competitive in the minors," said Murray. "We were disappointed that we didn't have the personnel to really be what we are now turning out to be. (Getting to the final) is really good for the organization. I think the message to our fans is when you get to this level with young players, and for the most part, you've knocked out some pretty good hockey clubs, with more veteran players than we've had. Hopefully we'll win the Calder Cup. That will be a terrific experience for all of these players as they move forward."

SEASON HIGHLIGHT
Craig Anderson marked what's hoped to be the beginning of a new era when he made his debut in Toronto against the arch-rival Leafs, the day after owner Eugene Melnyk sent his private plane to pick up the newly acquired goalie from Colorado. Anderson made 47 saves through 65 minutes then stopped all three Leafs he faced in the shootout to post a 1-0 shutout. He went on to post an 11-5-1 record, with two shutouts, a .938 save percentage and a 2.05 goals against average with his new team.

TURNING POINT
The Senators were 8-7-1 when they arrived in Boston to face the Bruins on Nov. 13, when they learned the teenaged daughter of assistant coach Luke Richardson had committed suicide back in Ottawa. Playing for Richardson, they posted a most impressive 2-0 victory, but once the magnitude of the tragedy sunk in, they went on a slide, losing 12 of their next 15 games. Included was a 7-1 loss in Carolina that they played the same long day as they attended an emotional service in Ottawa for young Daron Richardson.

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