Toronto Wins 4-2 Over Binghamton In Battle Of Divisional Leaders

Oh, these 11:00am annual games with Toronto is so much fun as students took over the Ricoh Coliseum rooting on their Toronto Marlies to their fourth straight victory, 4-2 over the Binghamton Senators. The North and East Division leaders clashed and played a fairly tight game but Toronto would benefit with a non goal call being changed to a good goal call after video review that still remains questionable, but that’s why we have it in place. Senators remain five points up in the East despite losing their second in a row before heading out to St. John’s for a pair of upcoming weekend games that’s going to be tough to win.

GAME RECAP

Senators get the early man advantage as Andrew MacWilliam is called for hooking and Matt Puempel also takes Mike Hoffman‘s spot on the power play as Shane Prince nearly completes his wrap around attempt in by Drew MacIntyre. Sens don’t mount anything more before Ben Blood trips Jamie Devane and it’s the Marlies turn on the power play. Buddy Robinson collides with T.J. Brennan at center ice as between the two big man Buddy has a seat onto the ice.

Kenny Ryan scores with just 13.8 seconds left in the period on the shorthand with his third of the season beating Andrew Hammond‘s short side for the 1-0 lead. Nice play by Jerry D’Amigo from behind the net stripping Derek Grant from the puck and getting a quick pass to Ryan parked to the right of Hammond. Sens little sloppy in their end on the play as they were up a man with Brennan in the box for hooking. Big meeting in the corner after the whistle blows as Darren Kramer gets the roughing call to end the first.

D’Amigo scores his 15th on the power play to begin the second and it’s a 2-0 contest. Sweet shooting from Jerry as he wrists one ringing off the far post with Hammond barely moving. Then just 33 seconds later Puempel scores his 20th picking up Mark Stone’s set up pass in front of MacIntyre and firing it into the open net to pull the Senators to within one as he was all alone on the play. Hammond comes up big stopping D’Amigo twice shooting on the power play with Grant in the box. Puempel nails the goal post as Stone was in along with Stephane Da Costa.

Ex-Amerks Mike Duco crashes the net as there is a big pile up with Hammond getting taken down but somehow the puck carries in for the goal light to come on however referee Jamie Koharski waves it off from behind the net. A video review ensues and changes Koharski’s mind and he signals a good goal. (Ahh, life in the minors.) 3-1 Toronto lead but not before a beautiful power play goal by the Senators making it a 3-2 game. Tic tac toe passing from Da Costa to cross ice for Puempel, who feeds it to Stone  in front beating MacIntyre.

Robinson gets taken down in the corner and pops back up with players mulling around as Grant and Kevin Marshall exchanging words while each grabbing the others jersey as a slew of penalties are given out giving the Senators a power play for 3:30 to start the third period. Brennan gets tagged with a 10 minute misconduct along with a roughing call and Marshall with double minors.

Binghamton starts the third with the man advantage but only generate two shots on goal as Toronto plays a solid fore checking game keeping the puck out of their zone. Sens only real opportunity in the period is when Cole Schneider skates in on a breakaway shooting a backhander aimed at MacIntyre’s five hole only to be denied. Hammond was pulled for the extra attacker but Josh Leivo scores into the empty net making it a 4-2 final. Shots would favor the Sens 36-30 for the game.

NOTES & OBSERVATIONS

• Sens go with 13 forwards and 5 defensemen as Tyler Eckford fell ill over night and Kramer in. Mark Borowiecki missed the trip and did not play and not sure about his status for the weekend as the team charter’s out a flight to St. John’s tonight out of Toronto.
• Schneider returned to action after missing his last two games along with Jim O’Brien. Stone scored and added an assist to keep his 11 game scoring streak intact.
• I didn’t like Grant’s game today as he took an ugly tripping penalty in the second, let D’Amigo beat him from the puck on Toronto’s first goal and just wasn’t effective on his line.
• Did Da Costa play today? I wasn’t sure as he has falling off the map lately since being sent down by Ottawa, maybe time to move Jean-Gabriel Pageau in his spot and slot Da Costa between Prince and Petersson.
• Andre Petersson was helped off the ice in favor of his arm as he fell crossing the blue line late in the third. I saw it but not sure what had happened to Andre.

3 STARS OF THE GAME

• #1 Peter Holland (1a)
• #2 MacIntyre (34 saves)
• #3 D’Amigo (1g 1a)

HIGHLIGHTS

NEXT GAME

Friday Night vs. St. John’s IceCaps.

ARTICLE PIC(S)

Cover photo and insert courtesy of Jeff Ulmer.