Binghamton Senators Give Up Another Lead, Lose Sixth Straight

The Binghamton Senators lead 2-0 and 3-1 as the team played strong right out of the gate, but like Saturday night’s loss to Utica, end up squandering their lead and let Syracuse score three unanswered goals leading to 4-3 comeback win breaking their three game losing streak. 60 minutes of hockey is not being played as the Sens hopes of making the playoffs are dwindling as they are now in seventh place just like that, only one point up on Albany for the final spot in the Eastern Conference, however Binghamton does have a game in hand on the Devils.

GAME RECAP

Senators get on the board first as Shane Prince scores his 17th from the slot beating Kristers Gudlevskis on the power play making it a 1-0 game early on. Senators skating well and getting more scoring opportunities but are denied by Gudlevski. A couple of big boys get in a wrestling match as Pierre-Cedric Labrie and Buddy Robinson tango near center ice with Labrie landing some rights knocking Robinson down to the ice.

Cedric Paquette draws a boarding call on Mike Sdao and the Sens are back on the power play. Matt Puempel scores his 22nd of the season on a one timer from up high in the right circle putting his team up by two. Stephane Da Costa gets an assist with a nice cross ice pass for Mike to fire from. All Senators as they out shoot the Crunch 15-5 in the period.

In the second, Paquette gets the Crunch to within one with his power play goal wristing a shot home by Andrew Hammond and it’s a 2-1 game. Less than four minutes later, Da Costa restores the Senators two goal lead scoring off the faceoff for his 14th of the season. Binghamton in control heading into the final frame and continue with their shot barrage at 28-15 for two periods.

Then the wheels fall off in the third as Syracuse scores a couple to tie up the contest. First, Philippe Paradis on a Crunch power play as he picks up a rebound that Hammond misplayed for the easy tap in with Wacey Hamilton in the box for hooking. Then, Brett Connolly notches his 14th by shooting up high over Hammond as Andrew had some traffic in front of him blocking his view of the puck as this game is now tied at three.

Physical play continues as play is up and down the ice with both club’s goalies making some nice saves. However, it’s the missed opportunities the Senators didn’t score as Syracuse nets the game winner with 2:42 left in the third from off of Vladislav Namestnikov‘s stick shooting high on Hammond as he was set in the butterfly position. I bet Andrew would like that back as his old habit crept in on that one. Nice feed from Jonathan Marchessault behind the cage as Syracuse wins it coming back and snatches the game Binghamton should have had.

NOTES & OBSERVATIONS

• Crunch starting goalie Gudlevskis was in net for Latvian pulling in 55 saves as his team nearly upset the Canadians in last month’s Olympics.
• It’s not as though the Senators are playing that badly, they’re just losing focus and lack that killer instinct in slamming the door shut. That door remains open and opposing teams come knocking and enter scoring at will. It just has to change and the club needs to play a full 60 minutes, not 20 or 40.
• Fredrik Claesson played well coming back after serving his one game suspension and had several block shots pairing up with Patrick Mullen.
• The club has yet to win a game with both Mark Borowiecki and Mike Hoffman out. Boro will be back for Wednesday’s tilt at Rochester and Hoff is playing for Ottawa. The team still is deep in talent as they fight their way through this long losing streak.
• That is only the Crunch’s second victory in nine games this season vs Binghamton with one more left in the books in Syracuse.

3 STARS OF THE GAME

• #1 Namestnikov (1g 1a)
• #2 Connolly (1g 1a)
• #3  Mike Angelidis (2a)

HIGHLIGHTS

N/A

NEXT GAME

Wednesday Night vs. Rochester Americans.

Cover photo and courtesy of Jeff Ulmer.