Senators Hunt Down The Bears Winning 4-1

Stephane Da Costa and Cole Schneider each scored two goals a piece to help defeat Hershey by a score of 4-1 for the club’s third straight victory in front of a Christmas hangover crowd in dowtown Binghamton. Nathan Lawson was solid between the pipes as he made 32 saves to keep the game close early on for his tenth win of the season. Sens have climbed into a first place tie with idle Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to keep pace in the East Division with the victory.

Photo Courtesy of Jeff Ulmer

RECAP

Patrick Wellar tangles with Michael Sdao to start the game two seconds in as Wellar lands more punches between the two heavies. The period would see more back and forth action before Nicolas Deschamps gets the Bears on the scoreboard first while Wacey Hamilton sits in the box for high sticking. Lawson appeared to be screened as the puck maybe is deflected in front past Lawson’s glove. Senators would hand Hershey three power plays in the period as Chris Wideman deflects the puck into the safety net for the delay of game call to wind down the first.

In the beginning of the second Wideman returns to the ice and shoves Nathan Walker into the net and returns to the box for roughing. Sens would kill it but appear sluggish as they won’t get their first shot on goal until the 13 minute mark. It’s a tight game as Lawson comes up with some big saves to keep the Senators in it.

Sdao flattens out Casey Wellman along the dashers as Binghamton’s game is starting to pick up momentum. Hamilton comes down the wing full head of steam on David Leggio but stands firm making the save. Lawson would then have the save of the game with a beautiful leg kick while on his side. Sens finally tie up the game at one a piece when Da Costa scores his eighth of the season by knocking in his own rebound by Leggio.

Senators continue to apply the pressure and breaks through again with Schneider picking up his tenth goal of the season getting Jim O’Brien‘s rebound by roofing it by Leggio for a 2-1 lead. That was all JOB as he worked his way getting the puck to the net. Good finish to end the period.

Third period gets under way as Matt Puempel wants a piece of Walker before the two are separated and both assessed the delay of game calls. The two make a date with one another at center ice once the penalties are expired, and would follow that promise with Puempel getting the take down on Walker much to the crowd’s delight.

Senators are on the power play but cough up the puck at the blue line to Deschamps for the shorthanded breakaway. Lawson stands firm in making the leg save to keep it a one goal lead for the Sens. Soon after, Da Costa scores his second of the night by muscling in by Leggio and Bingo is up by the score of 3-1.

Later in the period, Hershey calls a timeout and pulls Leggio for the extra attacker but it’s Schneider to the rescue netting his second of the contest into the empty net with one tenth of a second left in the game. All smiles surrounding Lawson for the team’s celebration and the roar of the home fans.

NOTES

• O’Brien had a strong game and perhaps played his best one of the season.
• Schneider finishes with two goals and two assist but receives second star honors. Somebody again is not on the ball when making their game nominations in the press box.
• Way too many careless penalties called on the Senators again. Seems to be the pattern as they don’t make it easy on themselves.
• Good lively crowd tonight celebrating the win. Always fun to take in a Sens game when the crowd is in it. Took a period and a half, but the payoff was rewarding as the Sens needed time to shake off the rust from the holiday break.
• That would be three wins in seven games against the Bears already this season. I think we welcome the break from playing our friends from down south on the interstate until next time on the tenth of January.

3 STARS OF THE GAME

• #1 Da Costa (2g)
• #2 Schneider (2g 2a)
• #3 O’Brien (2a)

—————

HIGHLIGHTS

NEXT GAME

Friday Night vs Utica Comets