Binghamton Senators Sweep Weekend, Regain 1st Place In East

The Binghamton Senators scored five goals in the third period breaking a 2-2 tie and end up beating the slumping Rochester Americans 7-3 in winning back to back games against the Amerks. The Sens third straight win has the club back on top in the East Division and third place in the conference while still having a game in hand over both W/B-Scranton and Norfolk. Andrew Hammond, in net for all three games, earned his 20th win of the season blocking 22 Amerks shots and has emerged as the number goalie for Binghamton in my eyes.

GAME RE-CAP

Hammond the surprised starter for his third game in as many days, gets scored upon early in the first when a Mike Zigomanis shot rolls up and over him and falls into the net. The play is very similar to last night’s lone Rochester goal as Hammond did all he could do to find the puck. Sens would get it back with two Amerks in the box and take advantage of the 5-3 as Matt Puempel‘s one time slap shot lasers in on Matt Hackett and into the cage. That’s Puempel’s 23rd of the season set up by Chris Wideman as we are tied up at one.

Sens get into some penalty trouble as Danny Hobbs is in for hooking Luka Vidmar, followed by a Fredrik Claesson elbow and then Derek Grant delay of game as he tried to clear the zone but the puck winds up in the stands. Kevin Porter takes a shot from his blue line that hits Mark Borowiecki up high sending him down to the ice in pain as Luke Adam shoots the loose puck in by Hammond for a 2-1 lead. Boro is down for a minute and leaves for the locker room under his own power. No more damage is done on the remaining power play for Rochester as the period comes to an end.

Borowiecki is back on the ice to start the second and right away they have too many men on the ice giving Rochester their fourth power play of the game. Claesson with two back to back big hits from the side of his net sending both players down to the ice. David Dziurzynski and D. Grant go on a shorthanded break but Dizzy can’t handle the puck in front by a pass from Derek as Binghamton is able to kill it. Amerks go on another power play as Senators can’t stay out of the sin bin while  Hammond comes up with a chest save on Jamie Tardif from the slot. Amerks aren’t very effective in setting any kind of offensive play as they remain out front by a goal.

Binghamton mounts up some pressure and looks to have some momentum going their way as the period starts to wind down. The good hustle pays off as they tie it up with 28 seconds left when Cole Schneider shoots from about five feet out for his 18th of the season. The initial shot was taken by Jean-Gabriel Pageau that missed the net, but found Buddy Robinson from behind and fed it to Cole. Good way to end the second heading into the third as Senators lead in shots 18-17.

Senators continue to take control as the third is underway when Robinson steals the puck near center ice and skates down with Schneider. Buddy gives the puck over to Cole and gets the return pass for the easy tap in on Hackett to break the tie. Soon after Dziurzynski skates in on another odd man rush with D. Grant and elects to shoot however Hackett juggles the puck and Dizzy slaps it into the back of the net for the Senators and it’s now a 4-2 contest.

All Binghamton as they turn it up a notch, getting another goal this time off the stick of Mark Stone. Nice passing from Stephane Da Costa to Pat Mullen, who found Stone all alone parked by the side of Hackett for the easy shot making it 5-2. Porter would keep the Amerks within striking distance as his shot from the blue line beats Hammond with Colton Gillies left all alone right directly in front of Andrew in putting up the screen.

However, Binghamton gets one right back as Claesson fires in from just outside his blue line and gets re-directed in off a Rochester player and it’s 6-3 as that’s Freddy’s third of the season. Stone finishes the offensive juggernaut scoring his second of the period cashing in on a big rebound off of Hackett from Puempel’s slapper and the Senators go on and win it by a score of 7-3.

NOTES & OBSERVATIONS

• Puempel has such a lethal one timer and accurate as he now has 12 power play goals to lead all rookies. This kid is the real deal and is a bonafide sniper.
• Robinson continues to improve and has surprisingly good hands as he now has 11 goals on the season. He’s been giving a regular shift and has produced given Luke a reason to no longer having him as a healthy scratch.
• Senators score a season high five goals in the third period as Rochester just ran out of gas and fell apart with their depleted defense leaving Hackett out to defend for himself.
• Three stars were announced as Schneider being the third star but AHL website has Stone instead. Either way, they both played well with Cole getting a goal and an assist.
• Binghamton players notched up a total of 7 goals and 13 assists to make up for the low scoring contests from both Friday and Saturday games, adding to their league lead 225 goals on the season.
• Great weekend for Hammy as he was suburb in net for all three games as the team needed him to shine and he delivered with Nathan Lawson still up with Ottawa.

3 STARS OF THE GAME

• #1 Robinson (1g 1a)
• #2 Porter (1g 2a)
• #3 Stone (2g)

HIGHLIGHTS

NEXT GAME

Wednesday Night vs Albany Devils.

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Cover photo courtesy of Jeff Ulmer.