Senators Rout Pirates 7-1 In A Slugfest Held In Lewiston, Maine
By Jeff Ulmer
A fun-filled action packed fight night tonight as Binghamton whips Portland 7-1 as the two clubs combine for 224 PIM’s with the Senators bouncing back from Friday night’s loss in Manchester. 173 minutes alone was called in the third as the Pirates were feeling chippy on losing their seventh straight at home and took out their frustrations on the Sens in that final period. With the victory, Binghamton increases their lead to five points over both second place W/B-Scranton, who were shutout on home ice by the surging Rochester Amerks, and now Norfolk, winners over Syracuse in a shootout. Pirates and the Senators play Wednesday in Binghamton which should make an interesting re-match to take part of.
GAME RECAP
A pair of Dziurzynski’s take on one another as David faces his younger brother Darian in tonight’s meeting. Senators get going first with Chris Wideman scoring his sixth as Chris pounces on a Shane Prince shot that was saved by Louis Domingue but not after giving up the juicy rebound. Senators have good jump tonight and seem to be in this one. New guy Danny Hobbs scores his first AHL professional goal making his season debut for Binghamton. Prince dished the puck to Hobbs whose quick release finds the back of the net past Domingue from the slot, 2-0 Senators.
Brandon Yip gets the Pirates to within one by shooting off of Andrew Hammond‘s back from in back of the net for a power play goal with Mike Hoffman in the box for hooking. However, it’s the Senators regaining their two goal advantage as Jim O’Brien‘s slap shot from the top of the circle beats Domingue for a 3-1 lead. Prince with the assist as he fed OB from the corner boards. Good sound period by Binghamton.
In the second period now as Hammond comes up with a good save on Darian Dziurzynski with Andy Miele crashing in over Hammond’s shoulder. Matt Puempel whiffs on an open net that had goal written all over it as Matt couldn’t find the handle on the puck.
Then some fireworks take place as Corey Cowick stuffs one in by Domingue in the corner post and Brett Hextall takes an exception to Wacey Hamilton‘s celebration and levels Wacey to the ice. Tempers amp up as a scrum ensues around the net as frustrations spill over for the Pirates. Darren Kramer then wants a piece of Hextall and Kyle Hagel wants a piece of Kramer. The trio make a date by the penalty box as Darren throws with Hextall and Hagel gets his paws on Kramer for third man in as the ref takes notes.
All said and done Kramer, Hextall and Hagel’s night are over as all three are tossed. Also, Domingue is also done as he gets the yank in favor of Mark Visentin. A brief video review confirms the goal is good and Sens are up 4-1. Adding to the lead is O’Brien scoring his second of the night as his one timer beats Visentin for a power play tally to make it a 5-1 game.
Starting the third period when David Dziurzynski scores his fifth of the season with Puempel and Mark Borowiecki getting the assists to stretch the lead to 6-1. Then things start to get dicey as the rout is on as Portland is one unhappy customer. Puempel gets into it with James Melindy referring back when Melindy high sticked Matt in the face a few plays earlier. Fight count: 1-1. (Kramer earlier and Melindy on this one).
Then Lucas Lessio jumps Prince near center ice and throws punches as Shane is on his back. Mike Sdao comes to the aid of Prince and pulls him off as the linesman are also involved in the tussle. Prince eventually gets up and man is he ever pissed. Players yelling and finger-pointing as Prince is lead off the ice. Fight count: -1 for Lessio as he cheap shots a player while he is down to the ice on his back.
Hoffman roofs his 23rd on the following power play and scored from his knee one timing the puck on a set play getting the cross ice pass from OB. Soon after O’Brien gets shoved into Visentin which draws some concern behind his net afterwards creating another scrum. Cowick and Darian Dziurzynski then go at with both players landing some punches. Even fight each get a point. Fight count: 3-2 Sens.
Ben Blood and Phil Lane square off but nothing really comes out of it and yet at the same time Danny New and Mark Louis also go at it with Louis winning that battle knocking New to the ice. Fight count: 3-3 draw. As the buzzer sounds Yip shoots in on Hammond from center ice that draws the attention of Boro as the two share words with one another. Wideman also is there as they both receive 10 minute misconducts in what transpires in front of the Senators bench.
NOTES & OBSERVATIONS
- Hobbs looked decent in his debut scoring a goal and an assist centering Prince and O’Brien while Andre Petersson was given the night off. The 24-year-old gives Luke Richardson some added depth to his forward options with Stephane Da Costa and Mark Stone both up in Ottawa and Derek Grant out with an injury.
- Prince was awesome tonight adding four assists as he has been on fire lately. OB with two goals and two helpers as well.
- Hammond wasn’t tested very much as he had a quiet game in goal. The one he did let in couldn’t have been helped as it went in off of him on a purpose shot from behind his cage.
3 STARS OF THE GAME
- #1 O’Brien (2g 2a)
- #2 Prince (4a)
- #3 Hobbs (1g 1a)
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HIGHLIGHTS
N/A
NEXT GAME
Wednesday Night host Portland Pirates