Jeff Zatkoff Posts 3-0 Shutout Over Binghamton Senators

The Christmas break couldn’t come in any better timing for the Binghamton Senators as they lose their fourth straight to their much hated rivals, a 3-0 shutout to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Goaltender Jeff Zatkoff, fresh from his re-call to Pittsburgh, finished with 35 saves in a strong performance as the Senators look to re-group over the holiday break.

GAME RECAP

Penguins score first with Alex Boak securing his first as a professional shooting from the blue line and the puck glances off of Daniel New’s stick into the air over Scott Greenham’s head and into the back of the net. Talk about a fluke goal. Just over four minutes later Nick Drazenovic floats a shot from the left circle high into the net on Greenham’s stick side to give the visitor’s a 2-0 lead.

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At 13:44 Penguins’ Conor Sheary skates with the puck along the length of the side boards into the zone and directs a wrist shot in the same spot and identical shot of Drazenovic’s as it sails past Greenham again high stick side to increase their lead to three. Senators appear flat in the first being out shot 11-8.

Into the second it doesn’t get any better as the Penguins play tough defense choke-holding the Senators potent offense. Brad Mills with a really hard check to Clark Seymour into the end board and draws a boarding call but the Pens don’t get anything going on their power play. Then Nick D’Agostino interferes with Patrick Mullen to give the Sens a brief man advantage but Zatkoff stands tall in net. Max McCormick nails Dominik Uher to the ice as the physical play is beginning to pick up.

WB/Scranton continues with their strong defensive game and Zatkoff is on his game as well tonight. Tom Kostopoulos knocks Mullen into Greenham violently as Scotty is dazed and down. A Melee ensues as tempers are ramping up. Faceoff in the Penguins zone sees Ryan Dzingel slashing Reid McNeill as he goes down to the ice with lots of drama. McNeill gets even seconds later dropping the much smaller Dzingel and all heck breaks out between the two rivals.

Shane Prince is tangled up throwing punches to Barry Goers and lands on top of him and Alex Grant landing some right’s to Carter Rowney’s head knocking him down as well. That would end up being the only highlight in the third as frustration’s coming from the Sens tonight as they lose their fourth in a row.

NOTES & OBSERVATIONS

Penguins didn’t allow too many serious scoring opportunities for Binghamton. And the few that were Zatkoff was there blocking the door. They were also down four forwards and four defensemen to parent Pittsburgh.
Andrew Hammond served as back up as his injury didn’t appear serious enough to call up Chris Driedger from Evansville.
A. Grant with a really decent fight as he hammered on #17 pretty good as he was able to knock his helmet off and score with some rights.
Dzingel, Prince and Matt Puempel played a good game as they combined for 12 shots out of the 35 taken. Zatkoff with a great kick save on Prince in close on a give and go with Dzingel behind the net midway through the second.
Binghamton have lost back to back home games to start off a four out of five scheduled with this same Pen team returning next Friday night.
Christmas break is here as some will be traveling home for the holiday and others will do their own thing making plans to perhaps visit NYC like others have in the past.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT CARD

B. Despite the shutout, Puempel played a pretty good game finishing with a team high six shots as Jeff Zatkoff kept the door closed shutting down the high powered Senators’ offense. The move of him playing on the first line with Brad Mills and Cole Schneider suits him better then with <strong><a href=. Forward. Binghamton Senators. #9 MATT PUEMPEL

B-SENS LINES

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

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

Out – Alex Guptill and Mike Sdao healthy.

UP NEXT

Another visit from our friends south of the border as the Penguins return next Friday at The Arena.

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

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