Binghamton Senators Return To Winning Ways 3-1 Over Phantoms

The Binghamton Senators continue to remind the rest of the East Division that they’re here to stay right in the thick of things as they downed the Lehigh Valley Phantoms 3-1 at The Arena. Netminder Andrew Hammond had a steady night making 34 saves and Brad Mills scored a beauty of a wrist shot in his season debut as the Senators won for the fifth time in their last six.

GAME RECAP

Lehigh Valley’s Zack Stortini gets his team the early lead just 1:56 in with a high backhander that scores on Hammond as he overplays a shot by Taylor Leier that hits the back boards as the puck bounces in front. Hammond follows up with a nice kick save on Darroll Powe‘s shot along the side wall. Goaltender Rob Zepp stones Jean-Gabriel Pageau in front on a two on one with Alex Guptill and later stops Matt Puempel on a rebound from Buddy Robinson’s long snapper as Zepp protects the 1-0 lead.

Mike Sdao and Steven Delisle exchange blows as the two big men get in a lengthy fight that was quite entertaining with Sdao landing some decent shots to Delisle. On an ensuing Senators power play Alex Grant‘s rocket rings off the crossbar that had goal written on it if it was slightly lower as Zepp never saw it. Soon after Senators would score two quick goals as Mills skates from his own end gaining speed and rifles a hard wrister up high in the slot that Zepp had no chance of saving to tie it up.

Then Fredrik Claesson scores his second of the season a little less than three minutes later set up by Patrick Mullen, and unloads a one time slapper that whistles in by Zepp for a 2-1 Senators lead. Mills later has a shorthanded scoring opportunity as he intercepts a pass and skates into the offensive zone but is denied by Zepp in close.

Sdao hits Andrew Gordon near center ice and after the whistle Sdao’s pal Stortini begins mouthing off as the two decided to get re-acquainted throwing the gloves before the puck drops with Sdao getting the tail end of it by losing his balance twice. That would end Mike’s evening with an automatic game misconduct having being involved in his second fight.

With the Phantom’s Taylor Leier in the sin bin serving a too many men on the ice call, Shane Prince buries a rebound home given up by Zepp on Derek Grant‘s shot for his 10th of the season giving his team a 3-1 lead. Binghamton goes on and preserves the two goal lead for the win the rest of the way with no drama.

NOTES & OBSERVATIONS

• Mills with his first goal of the season celebrates by jumping into the glass in the corner and is mobbed by his happy team mates.
• Hammond played really well for his first game action since Nov 22nd after sitting out getting banged up in practice and his recent recall in Ottawa.
• Senators’ deadly power play was 1/3 as they continue to climb to the top of the league. They also finished out-shooting the Phantoms 40 – 35.
• Claesson was solid tonight in leading the defense and has found some offense as of late. Blocking shots, taking the body and effective on one on one coverage.
•  As stupid is stupid goes for Stortini as he gets all drama like after the Sdao clash in celebrating by throwing his arms up and yelling. What a goon.

PLAYER  SPOTLIGHT CARD

B-SENS LINES

Forwards – Guptill-Pageau-Schneider, Puempel-D Grant-Robinson, Dziurzynski-Camper-Prince, Kramer-McCormick-Mills

Defense – Claesson-Grant, Johnson-Mullen, Sdao-Wideman

Out – Danny New, Garrett Thompson and Ryan Dzingel are all healthy scratches.

UP NEXT

Senators are back on the road as they travel south of the border to Chocolate Town as they take on the Hershey Bears in another important division tilt.

*Cover Pic & Insert Courtesy of SenShot’s Photographer Alicia Strauch