Binghamton Senators Suffer Disappointing Loss To WB/Scranton Penguins

Well, so much for turning the tide.

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, riding behind Bryan Rust’s two goals, reminded who’s currently the better team between the two rivals in handing the Binghamton Senators a 6-4 loss. The Sens, down by three in the second period, rallied by scoring two of their overall four power play goals on the night and made it a game, only to allow Wilkes-Barre two more third period tally’s to put this one away. Pens have previously beating the Sens 3-2 in their barn late in October.

GAME RECAP

Quick pace in the first with very little whistles in the beginning but Penguins get back to back power plays with the latter from Chris Wideman, as he let one go from the blue line after the whistle was blown for offsides drawing the ire of the Pens, and as the result goes off for roughing. Bryan Rust takes advantage and tips in a shot from the blue line by Derrick Pouliot as Andrew Hammond had no chance in stopping it. Then Alex Guptill dishes to a streaking Darren Kramer in towards the net but Matt Murray gets a leg on it. Senators then get an even up goal off a golf wedge by Patrick Mullen as he chips home the puck from the circle beating Murray up high in the corner.

All tied up heading to the second as Murray flashes the leather on Cole Schneider’s wrist shot, followed by Hammond losing sight of the puck from a shot off the stick of Andrew Ebbett around his ankles but covers before any damage takes place. Rust would make sure his goes in for his second of the night beating a sprawling Hammond for a 2-1 lead. With Aaron Johnson in the box on a questionable cross-checking call to Conor Sheary, Pens Brian Dumoulin carries the puck around the circle and shoots on net with two Pens in the crease as Fredrik Claesson fails to take at least a player out, as the puck gets deflected into the net past Hammond. Josh Archibald gets credited for the goal.

With Archibald’s alert go ahead pass at center ice to Sheary, he turns on the afterburners and has a breakaway beating out Jean-Gabriel Pageau and fakes out Hammond with a pretty deke going roof off his backhander and the rout is on. Not so fast, as Wideman’s one timer on the power play blasts through Murray to make it a 4-2 game with the Sens buzzing. Nice set up by Mullen on the goal. Senators add another on Matt Puempel’s rebounder to cut the lead to one, also on the power play as he had all net scoring his third of the season.

Senators need a goal to tie it as Murray gloves Shane Prince’s hard wrister near the wall. Then Mullen rings one off the post, followed by Carter Camper dangling his way through players but is denied by Murray. WB/Scranton’s Jayson Megna carries the puck around the circle and his shot bounces back to Ebbett for the follow through to put a dagger into Binghamton chances of a comeback. Then, Carter Rowney scores his first of the season unassisted on a water bottle goal when he shoots from the side boards as Hammond gave up in the play. Senators add one more with a six on three advantage as Puempel with his second of the game, but lose making it a final of 6-4 Penguins.

NOTES & OBSERVATIONS

• Late in the game, Kramer and Alex Boak were having discussions on the bench by the divider that led up to Guptill and Reid McNeill dropping the gloves with McNeill getting the take down. That’s Guptill’s second fight in as many nights which is interesting as he’s not known to be one.
• Puempel looks to be returning to form, at least on the score-sheet, as he had two goals and an assist on four shots as he’s been giving an effort but hasn’t had much luck, along with everyone else on the club it seems.
• Wideman received his two etched glass awards before the game as recipient of the Player of the Week and Player of the Month, even though the latter was the only announcement.
• Senators finished 4/5 on the power play and killed off 1/3 on the penalty kill, but lost the battles even strength.
• What’s turning out to be worrisome is the inconsistent play by some players. Buddy Robinson was invisible tonight. Claesson hasn’t been like himself. David Dziurzynski I thought would be something but just the opposite. There’s more, but will save it for a future piece next week.
• Shots were 34-29 Sens as Binghamton continues to improve the overall shot barrage from earlier games.
• Lines did not change from Friday night like I thought, but who knows what’s in store for next weekend down in Norfolk. On a side-note, Binghamton is a disappointing 1-3-2 on home ice.
• Senators wore special camouflage uni’s to honor Military Appreciation Day.

PLAYER’S  SPOTLIGHT CARD

B-SENS LINES

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

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

Out – Brad Mills, Gm. #9 of 20 gm. AHL Suspension. Max McCormick, upper body. Mike Sdao, ill. Danny Hobbs, healthy.

UP NEXT

Binghamton takes the road down south to Norfolk, Virginia for a pair of weekend games against the Admirals starting on Friday.

*Cover Pic & Insert’s Courtesy of Alicia Strauch