Binghamton Crunched By Syracuse 6-5 In Nasty Affair

The Binghamton Senators lost their second straight game, blowing a five goal lead to the  Syracuse Crunch in an “old time hockey” game.  It was a fight filled affair that saw both goalies get tossed for fighting and that was just the undercard.

With Robin Lehner between the pipes the Sens got out to a 5-0 lead before he and Crunch goalie Riku Helenius both left the game 30 seconds shy of the halfway point of the game.  Lehner instigated a brouhaha after being run into by Richard Panik and eventually met Helenius at the Sens blue line where they did battle.  It was the turning point of the game, and not in Binghamton’s favorite.  While Lehner was pitching the shutout during his time, his replacement Nathan Lawson didn’t fare so well.  He was scored on in the first minute and it went downhill from there. Lawson proceeded to allow four more goals in regulation to let the 5 goal lead disappear and let the game go into extra time, where he allowed the OT winner.  Dustin Tokarski was perfect in relief of Helenius,  stopping all 14 shots he faced.

When the dust settled, there were 11 goals scored, 152 minutes in penalties, and 7  scraps. Lehner was apparently given a match penalty, which usually comes with some supplemental discipline.

Panik, who started the fracas that saw Lehner get ejected, also scored the winner and assisted on the last two goals Syracuse scored in regulation to complete the incredible comeback.

Binghamton got goals from 5 different players, with 4 of them scoring their first of the season.   The Senators power play went just 2 for 11, while Syracuse was 1 for 7.