Binghamton Senators Fail In 5-3 Loss To Phantoms

The Lehigh Valley Phantoms jumped out of the gate scoring three goals in the first 36 seconds chasing starter Andrew Hammond and cruised with a 5-3 drubbing over the Binghamton Senators. The loss knocks the Senators down another rung in the East Division ladder with their second straight to a division opponent.

GAME RECAP

Phantoms score three goals in 21 seconds just 36 seconds into the game beginning with Max McCormick’s line at puck drop. Steven Delisle powers his way into the zone splitting the defense of Fredrik Claesson and Alex Grant then quickly dishes off to Petr Straka and shoots in past a lunging Hammond for goal #1.

More from Belleville Senators

Goal #2 sees Derek Grant‘s line out when Andrew Gordon strips the puck away from Aaron Johnson near the wall in neutral ice and skates in feeding Jason Akeson as he waits on the doorstep shooting up high past Hammond’s shoulder.

Goal #3 was Hammond just not being able to recover in time as Gordon’s simple shot from along the wall knuckles in past him as he misplayed it with Danny New tossing his hands in the air covering Gordon. Carter Camper‘s line was out on that one.

Hammond knocked out for Scott Greenham in relief after only 36 seconds and three shots.

Lehigh Valley’s Nick Cousins wrist shot whistles by Greenham’s glove from the side hash mark for a power play goal to make it a 4-0 game. Senators get their chances in the second but Rob Zepp keeps the puck out of the net. With 7:54 left Binghamton gets one with Alex Grant scoring his third of the season on a slapper from the point just inside the post for a power play goal making it 4-1.

Chris Wideman’s finds the back of the cage cutting the lead in half with his slap shot, as that is the Senators’ second power play goal of the night. Cousins scores his second of the game receiving a long cross ice pass from Robert Hagg and beats Greenham with a sharp wrist shot glove side. Derek Grant finishes with a late power play goal for his 10th of the season with 21 seconds left.

NOTES & OBSERVATIONS

No official word from the AHL if any records have actually been broken in some confusion but it appears the fastest three goals in 21 seconds might be at least one that is tied, as nothing is showing for fastest three goals to begin a game.
Senators fall to fourth in the East trailing the Phantoms by a point. Not good with Jean-Gabriel Pageau now playing in Ottawa.
Binghamton fans have seen so many odd goals let in on Hammond over the last two seasons that either he’s got the worst luck or just tries too much, but that third goal was handled badly.
Ryan Dzingel centered Brad Mills and Cole Schneider as that line was not on the ice during those three goals.
Senators didn’t play poorly as they out-shot Lehigh Valley 44 – 30 and had good puck possession throughout, well except for the start.
Matt Puempel doesn’t belong playing aside D. Grant and Buddy Robinson. That’s just a very odd line as he looks out of sorts. Put him back with Camper and Shane Prince.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT CARD

D. The first goal was a defensive lapse and he had little chance on coming up with a save as the Phantoms were strong out of the gate. The second was his positioning but it was a good shot hitting far side of the net, and the third goal was just downright embarrassing. That is where he fell apart in trying to overcompensate that was witnessed tonight. Hammond got rattled and didn’t recover in time. It was a very rare sequence of events that took place, however good goaltenders do the things that are necessary in regaining confidence from players preventing that to happen.. Goaltender. Binghamton Senators. #30 ANDREW HAMMOND

B-SENS LINES

Forwards – Mills-Dzingel-Schneider, Puempel-D Grant-Robinson, Thompson-Camper-Prince, Kramer-McCormick-Dziurzynski

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

Out – Alex Guptill healthy, Mike Sdao day-to-day.

UP NEXT

Springfield Falcons pays a visit for the first time in what seems forever this Friday night in Binghamton.

*Cover Pic Courtesy of Jeff Ulmer.

Home/Belleville Senators