Binghamton Cruises To A 5-2 Win Over Albany

Senators continue their recent offensive outburst with a 5-2 win over the Devils tonight at the Arena. Andrew Hammond was effective in net stopping 27 shots to lead Binghamton to their third straight win. The victory pulls the club into a three-point cushion over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, losers of a 4-1 score in Norfolk. The game featured a slow start by the Sens but their transitional play carried them in getting some key goals lead by Derek Grant‘s two goals.

Binghamton’s Jim O’Brien and Shane Prince battle Albany’s Brandon Burlon and  David Wohlberg along the boards in Friday night’s Senators 5-2 win. Photo courtesy of Alicia Strauch.

GAME RECAP

We are off as Albany strikes first and early when Albany’s Mattias Tedenby digs the puck out of the corner to Artem Demkov who finds Stefan Matteau all alone in the slot and skirts one by Hammond for a 1-0 lead. Albany continuing the early pressure and are on the power play with David Dziurzynski off for slashing. Matt Puempel steals the puck off of Adam Larsson but his shot misses the net. Sens picking up the pace as Puempel skates in with Grant but can’t finish the play outside the cage.

With Chris McKelvie in the box Binghamton controls the puck on their power play and scores with Chris Wideman‘s purpose shot gets re directed in off of Puempel’s stick that Albany’s starter Keith Kinkaid had no chance on. All tied up at one as the Sens finish the period strong.

Less than a minute into the second Sens Andre Petersson gets a tripping call and Grant goes to work. Picking up the loose puck at mid ice and skating in down alone on Kinkaid, Derek makes it look easy and patiently slides it in five hole for his third shorthanded tally for a 2-1 Senators lead. Sens almost make it a 3-1 game with mad scramble in front of Kinkaid as Wideman’s shot is blocked but Pager was there for the rebound when McKelvie gets a stick on that was heading into the net. Sens buzzing.

Corey Cowick scores his third goal in his last four games from his back as Dziurzynski’s wrap around attempt was denied but found Corey cross ice to put the Sens up by two. Soon after Shane Prince scores his ninth of the season from a pretty pass by Petersson near the corner boards and his wrister beats Kinkaid for a 4-1 lead. Kinkaid would shortly show his frustrations by batting a save on a Mike Sdao shot into the crowd drawing a 10 minute misconduct that serves no purpose but that’s the kind of evening it has been for the Devils.

Senators open up the third looking to seal the win and continue to play solid as Hammond is having another strong game. As that is the way it work out with Grant scoring his second of the game to begin the period getting his shot deflected off of Dan Kelly and in by Kinkaid. Biscuit goal for the fans and that is Grant’s sixth of the season.

Hammond comes up big stuffing out Tim Sestito parked in his crease and making the save point-blank on Andrew. Dziurzynski has developed a mini breakaway but can’t control the puck to get a shot off. Hammond comes up with a leg save by Mike Sislo‘s shot down close. Towards the end of the period Albany would add a meaningless tally as Scott Timmins shot dribbles in past Hammond’s far post to make it a 5-2 game.

NOTES & OBSERVATIONS

• Pageau and Sestito would battle all night chirping at each other as both players play that feisty type of game. Pager likes getting under the skin of others as that is why he’s so diversified and talented.
• Sens outshoot the Devils 40-29 and go one for five on the power play. Puempel has scored three goals in his last three games.
• Senators have scored 17 goals in their last three games as the offense has come alive after a little bit of a lull there for a couple of games. They remain in third place in the Eastern Conference with 55 points while Albany is tied with W-B/Scranton for fourth with 52 points.
• Looking ahead, the Senators next game up is on Saturday night for the highly anticipated Denis Hamel Hall of Fame night against the Amerks. Should be a good one and look for my pre-game tomorrow morning.

3 STARS OF THE GAME

• #1 Grant (2g)
• #2 Cowick (1g)
• #3 Puempel (1g 1a)

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HIGHLIGHTS

NEXT GAME

Saturday Night host Rochester Americans

*Cover photo as well as insert both courtesy of Alicia Strauch.