Cal Heeter Comes Up Big For Phantoms Over B-Sens 3-1

The Senators ran into a red-hot goaltender and couldn’t get the two points they fought for as they lose to the Adirondack Phantoms 3-1 behind Cal Heeter‘s 38 saves. That would be Adirondack’s third win in a row and second against Bingo. The Sens applied pressure and played a good road game, but it was just one of those games where they fell short. They’ll get another crack at it Saturday night at home against streaking Syracuse, who rolled to their 5th win in a row winning tonight against Rochester in a SO.

GAME RE-CAP

• 1st period
  

Sens donning their red road jerseys for the first time this season, and Phantoms play an even beginning of the game. Phantoms score early on as Tye McGinn took a pass from Nick Cousins and scored untouched with four Sens standing around. Andrew Hammond didn’t have a chance. Shane Prince and Jean-Gabriel Pageau buzzing and creating chances. Pageau is the most active player on the ice and draws two penalties but the pp was ineffective and the Senators can’t get anything going. Sens playing physical with Mark Borowiecki laying some bodies down. Wacey Hamilton playing hard. McGinn gets his second of the period by a backhander past Hammond for a 2-0 lead and fights break out by the circle with Freddy Claesson and Ben Holstrom going at it as well as Darren Kramer and Kris Newbury. Shots are 15-9 Bingo.

• 2nd period

All Binghamton as Heeter comes up big for Adirondack to keep them in the game. Kramer didn’t come out for the 2nd so I don’t exactly know what happened to him. Bingo had one pp and played much more structured but couldn’t solve Heeter. Cole Schneider, Stephane Da Costa and Prince with Mike Hoffman playing the point along with Chris Wideman and wasn’t successful. Second unit is Matt Puempel, Ludwig Karlsson and Buddy Robinson with Hoffman and Cody Ceci manning the blue line. Sens would get their chances but again couldn’t score on Heeter. Shots for the period 15-6 and for the game 30-15 Sens but trail by 2 heading into the third.

• 3rd period

B-Sens continue to press and put up shots but can’t beat the Phantom goaltender. They had their chances and finally figured him out as Robinson rips a laser from the left circle from a drop pass by Pageau with Boro in the box for roughing for a shorthanded goal. That would end the shutout bid for Cal as he had no chance on the play. Sens continue to apply pressure by shooting from all angles. Clock winding down and Hammond is pulled for the extra skater. Newbury ends up getting free and scores into the empty net for a 3-1 lead. Final shots end up 38-23 Bingo.

NOTES

– Heeter’s second Star of the Game honors in as many games. He made 27 saves in Wednesday night’s 2-1 win over Springfield.

– Sens miss forwards Jim O’Brien, Mark Stone and Andre Petersson and it’s starting to show as the Senators are sliding in the East.

– Pageau made his season debut for the Sens and looked real rusty in faceoffs, but was effective in creating chances and getting involved like he always does. Prince played well with Pager, maybe Corey Cowick needs to get reunited back to that line like last year to jump-start his game as Cowick is off to a real slow start this season.

– Hammond played better than the last Phantoms game as he made 20 saves. I can’t really fault this game as the rookie goaltender held his own.

– No word on Kramer as he didn’t play after that first period fight towards the end of the period.

3 STARS OF THE GAME

• #1 Heeter (37 saves)
• #2 McGinn (2 g)
• #3 Holmstrom (1a)

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HIGHLIGHTS

Will edit if/when available

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Saturday Night vs. Syracuse Crunch