OTTAWA - The Ottawa Senators today claimed goaltender Mike Morrison off waivers from the Edmonton Oilers. Morrison will join the Senators Friday in Atlanta while netminder Billy Thompson will subsequently be re-asssigned to Ottawa's American Hockey League affiliate, the Binghamton Senators.

Morrison, 26, has split the 2005-06 season between the Oilers and their East Coast Hockey League affiliate, the Greenville Grrrowl. In 21 games with Edmonton this season, Morrison has posted a 10-4-2 record, 2.83 goals-against-average and 0.884 save percentage.

Morrison last played March 7 as the Oilers suffered a 4-3 shootout loss to the Dallas Stars. Morrison suffered the loss in relief of Ty Conklin, allowing the game-deciding goal to Sergei Zubov. The Medford, Mass., native holds a 5-2 record in shootouts this season and has made 18 saves on 23 attempts.

Earlier this season, Morrison was named the NHL's defensive player of the week for the period ending Nov. 27, 2005, after posting a 3-0-0 record, including two shootout wins. Morrison made his NHL debut in relief Nov. 7 at Dallas and later recorded his first NHL start and win at Colorado on Nov. 14 (5-2 win).

In two stints with Greenville this season, Morrison has posted a 7-2-0 record with a 2.19 GAA. He has a combined record of 20-12-2 through parts of two season with the Grrrowl.

Morrison was originally Edmonton's eighth choice, 186th overall, in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft.

MIKE MORRISON, Goaltender, catches right, 6'3", 194 lbs.
Born: July 11, 1979 (Medford, Mass.)
Drafted: Edmonton's eighth choice (186th overall) in the 1998 draft

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