Ex-Senators Mike McKenna Enjoys 3-0 Shutout Over Former Team
By Jeff Ulmer
Binghamton Senators didn’t get the start they wanted in the first of a three game road trip up in the New England area as former Senator Mike McKenna stopped 35 shots for his second consecutive shutout and in return sent the Senators to their third straight loss.
GAME RECAP
Two journeymen goaltenders are in net as McKenna and Peter Mannino are the starters as the first period is an uneventful one with the exception of the lone goal scored by Portland. On a set play with Darian Dziurzynski standing alone in back of the net, Justin Hache’s pass along the boards from the right circle finds Dziurzynski as he spins in a wrap around just inside the post beating Mannino for the 1-0 lead. With over two minutes left Alex Grant appears to have taken a stick to the face that draws blood and heads off to the dressing room to get stitched up.
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In the second Mannino is having a strong game as he stops a three on one and gets a kick save on Jordan Martinook‘s shot in front on another. Portland’s Eric Selleck robbed in close by Mannino getting a blocker save and holds off a semi breakaway by Henrik Samuelsson. Senators seemed to have answered as Max McCormick’s shot on a sharp angle gets the best of McKenna but the net is dislodged first nullifying the potential tying goal.
On a fluke play with the period winding down, Pirates go up by two with 3.2 seconds left. Off the draw in Binghamton’s zone, the puck travels up and is lost by many players including Mannino, as it lands near Dylan Reese at the blue line and swats it with time running out in by Mannino, as he is standing with his arms stretched out wondering what in adding to the confusion. It counts as shots are 27-17 Pirates after two.
Just at the 17:09 mark opening the third period, Darian Dziurzynski scores his second of the game and seventh of the season as he accepts a pass from Francis Wathier at the blue line and gets his own rebound shooting the biscuit up high, short side by Mannino to make it a 3-0 contest. Senators don’t score on a four-minute power play late in the period as frustrations mount with the two teams ended up on the feisty side of things. Senators out shoot the Pirates 18-11 in the period but overall, it’s Portland with a 38-35 advantage.
NOTES & OBSERVATIONS
- Senators power play continues to be skittish going 0-6 even with an important piece of the puzzle back in Chris Wideman.
- Mannino seen in barking orders and directing traffic pointing to certain players. He didn’t appear too happy with Patty Mullen at one point in the second after a defensive turnover which led to a shot on net. Costly goal given up late in the second shook the core.
- Alex Grant did not return from his first period injury as the Senators skated with five D-men the rest of the way interchanging and double shifting players.
- Sparse crowd of under 1500.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT CARD
B-. Wideman was okay tonight despite the loss in his first game back since his re-call. He played his usual power play minutes and even though he didn’t wind up on the score-sheet, Chris ended up with a game high 8 shots, but a -2 on the team.. Forward. Binghamton Senators. #6 CHRIS WIDEMAN
B-SENS LINES
Forwards – Puempel-D Grant-Mills Prince-Camper-Robinson Thompson-Dzingel-Guptill Kramer-McCormick-Dziurzynski
Defense – Claesson-A Grant, Johnson-Mullen, Sdao-Wideman
Out – Cole Schneider day-to-day, Daniel New healthy.
UP NEXT
Binghamton continues their three game sweep up in New England with next action coming up on Friday in Worcester.