Different Game, Same Result In B-Sens 3-2 Loss To Pens

I’m getting a feeling this is going to be a long season. I hope I’m wrong.

The Binghamton Senators lost a game they should have won only if, they stayed out of the box and, contained the winning goal scorer in the third by a (shall I say it?) another defensive blown man-on-man coverage as the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins win 3-2 sending the visiting team home with only one point to show for the weekend. Last season they might have gotten away with it with the high powered offense to cover for, so far not the story this season.

B-SENS LINES

Forwards – Prince-Pageau-Robinson, Puempel-Camper-Schneider, Dziurzynski-D Grant-Thompson, Kramer-Dzingel-Guptill

Defense – Claesson-Grant, Johnson-Mullen, Sdao-Wideman..Hammond in goal.

Out – Brad Mills, upper body. Max McCormick, upper body. Daniel New, upper body.

GAME RECAP

In the opening minute Andrew Hammond misplayed the puck from about 15 feet in front of the crease but Carter Camper is there to swat it away as the Pens almost get a freebee. Soon after the Penguins make sure on this one with Bryan Rust barreling down the zone along the boards cuts towards the net shooting on Hammond’s pads as Tom Kostopoulos taps in the rebound for a 1-0 lead. WB/Scranton’s rookie defenseman Derrick Pouliot floats a wrist shot through bodies in front as the puck had eyes for the back of the net as the Senators are quickly behind the 8-ball down by two.

Eric Hartzell closes up the 5-hole on Cole Schneider’s backhand attempt as he skates in bursting by the defense. Binghamton is playing better then the first half of the first and are rewarded, with Chris Wideman skating in from the point and rifles home a wrist shot by the hash marks past Hartzell’s shoulder to cut the lead to one. That would be Wideman’s third goal as Aaron Johnson and David Dziurzynski with the assists as the period ends with the home team up 2-1.

More from Belleville Senators

Rust skates through Patrick Mullen and Johnson shooting in on net but Hammond comes up with the save in the second period. Reid McNeill big hit on Garrett Thompson in his zone as the Penguins go on the power play with Johnson trying to contain a 2-1 rush along with Mullen but gets a holding call. Alex Grant tries to clear the zone as the puck sails into the blue seats giving the Pens a 5-3. 2 seconds in, Kostopoulos is whistle for interference right off the faceoff, resulting on a 4×3. Good pressure by the Penguins but they couldn’t connect.

Mullen gets knocked down near the corner dasher by Adam Payerl and is hurt while Ryan Dzingel steps in to defend his fallen team mate and drops the gloves with Payerl for a brief scrap. Mullen is helped off the ice favoring his leg. With Brian Dumoulin of the Penguins off for high sticking, Senators set up their power play unit as Wideman carries in down low feeds Matt Puempel in the middle as his one-timer is stopped by Hartzell but Schneider parked by the goalie’s side, swats in the puck waist high with his stick into the net for his third of the season that ties up the game 2-2. Johnson takes a terrible hooking penalty with just 14 seconds left to close out the period.

Mullen back on the ice as WB/Scranton starts the third on the power play but Binghamton does a good job killing it. Back and forth action with both goaltenders playing effective, but not soon after the Pens take the lead with Andrew Ebbett getting several stabs at his own rebound and finally scores as Mike Sdao failed to take the body in front of Hammond.

Both teams exchange six penalties combined in the period, but the Sens get a final man advantage with Payerl being called for goalie interference and with Hammond pulled inside a minute left, Sens apply pressure and get several chances to tie it up with Wideman ringing one off the crossbar having Hartzell beat being the final chance in sending it to overtime.

Game over with the Senators having a single point to show for this weekend, and they were lucky to get that.

NOTES & OBSERVATIONS

Luke Richardson tweaked the defense reuniting Fredrik Claesson and Grant as the first unit, sending Mullen down to the second pairing with Johnson. Good move as Claesson and Grant played well.
Hammond played good, but a perfect example of leaving your goalie hung out to dry was the winning goal as Sdao did nothing to clear Ebbett out of the goal mouth.
Johnson with a couple of bad penalties, missed coverages and turnover passes. Wasn’t real sharp as his play as of late is somewhat questionable to say the least.
40 shots given up. 9 penalties called. Not much more to say.
It’s early, no need to panic, but this team needs to find their game and find it fast before they sink in the East.

PLAYER’S SPOTLIGHT CARD

Defense. Binghamton Senators. FREDRIK CLAESSON. B+. Claesson playing on the first unit reunited with Alex Grant as the two together were the best parings of the game. What looked good on paper hasn’t played out on the ice so far on defense with the exception of Freddy. He’s been a beast on the penalty kill as he was tested often tonight. The third year pro is a -5 so far after a +37 last season, but that should improve once the offense gets rolling.

UP NEXT

Senators host Utica Comets on Wednesday for the first of a home on home series with the follow up game held in Utica on Friday.

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