Five Goal Outburst In The Third Enough To Sink Binghamton Senators
By Jeff Ulmer
St. John’s IceCaps explode for five third period goals with three in 2:45 and go on in defeating the Binghamton Senators 5-2. All-Star rookie goaltender Connor Hellebuyck was strong finishing with 37 saves as Andrew Hammond took the loss as the Senators were leading 1-0 before collapsing in the final frame.
GAME RECAP
Quick pace in the first as Binghamton strikes at the mid way point of the opening period with Derek Grant skating down the slot and using an IceCaps’ defenseman as a screen, lifts a wrist shot by netminder Hellebuyck for a 1-0 lead, his 13th of the season. Senators defenseman Guillaume Lepine with a big hit on Scott Kosmachuk as Hammond blocks a shot from Carl Klingberg in tight to the cage. Senators go on a late power play that will carry over into the second.
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Power play expires as Senators don’t take advantage, however Hammond is setting himself up for success looking solid in-between the posts as gets a glove on Will O’Neill’s slapper from the blue line. St. John’s Kyle MacKinnon wrap around attempt is stalled by Hammond as the IceCaps ramp up the pressure. Not before Shane Prince rushing towards the net with two defenders chasing but Hellebuyck with the save. Aaron Johnson with a bad tripping penalty after play is dead towards the end of the period. Shots in favor of the Caps 28-27.
Into the third of this somewhat tight checking game which features many shots as the IceCaps are on the power play, which hasn’t looked that good all night. However, they get a break and tie it up as Kyle MacKinnon scores just 41 seconds in on a re-direction by Brenden Kichton’s shot for that power play goal in getting behind Hammond. 32 seconds after, Julien Brouiette scores his third of the season beating Hammond cleanly on the short side making it a 2-1 game.
Caps rookie Chase Balisy ups the lead by two putting in an easy one as Hammond was on his stomach tracking the puck in a goal mouth scramble. Then Scott Kosmachuk takes a short go ahead pass from O’Neill and shoots a wrister from the circle landing far side of the net top shelf that Andrew wasn’t expecting. With under five minutes left Chris Wideman aims a one timer into the net for a power play goal, but Klingberg adds an empty netter for the final, a 5-2 Caps win.
NOTES & OBSERVATIONS
- St. John’s battled hard despite missing some key players with namely their Captain Jason Jaffray, Eric O’Dell, Patrice Cormier and Kris Fredheim all out with injuries. Shots ended up 39-38 Sens.
- New guy defensman Nick Tuzzolino, who is signed to a PTO for the injured Danny New, paired with Fredrik Claesson and looked okay although a couple of bad turnovers. Big guy at 6’5″ but took some hits falling in the process, has seen action in 87 AHL games over the last five years.
- Hammond let in three goals in 2:45 in the third as he became unglued in what was otherwise turning out to be one of his finer performances of the season.
- For the most part the game was tight until the final period with up and down action that blew it wide open. Senators cannot be as successful in that type of action as they were the previous two seasons with more primary scoring dominating back then. It just doesn’t work for this team.
- Prince and Ryan Dzingel were the two best forwards on the ice tonight, with a shout out to Derek Grant. Matt Puempel a real quiet one.
- Binghamton’s playoff hopes are sinking and doesn’t bode well being 10 points out of the final spot as they’re sitting in 14th in the Eastern Conference.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT CARD
B. Grant with a nice goal early in the first while using a defender in setting up a screen for his 13th of the season. Finished with a game high six shots as he was in it centering Puempel and <strong><a href=. Forward. Binghamton Senators. #57 DEREK GRANT
B-SENS LINES
Forwards – Prince-Camper-Schneider, Puempel-D Grant-Dziurzynski, Gutpill-Dzingel-Robinson, Kramer-McCormick-Thompson
Defense – Johnson-Mullen, Claesson-Tuzzolino, Lepine-Wideman
Out – Brad Mills, Mike Sdao, Danny New and Alex Grant, injured. Danny Hobbs and David Marshall, healthy.
UP NEXT
Binghamton travels to Hershey to face Jim O’Brien and the Bears on Saturday.
*Cover Pic & Insert Courtesy of SenShot’s Photographer Alicia Strauch