The B-Sens blew an early two goal lead as Hershey scores four unanswered goals leading them to a 4-2 win and sending the Sens to their third straight loss. David Leggio settled down after giving up the early lead as he made 37 saves on the night including a game saver late in the second on Tyler Eckford. Senators played a good game but the Bears were the better team at cashing in on their chances. Surprisingly, Bingo remains in a first place tie with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton as the Pens were shutout at St. John’s 5-0.
RECAP
Senators get on the board quickly within 32 seconds as Jim O’Brien scores his second of the season pouncing in on his own rebound for an early 1-0 lead. That would bring down the stuffed animals onto the ice for Teddy Bear Toss Night. Soon after, Buddy Robinson adds to the lead by blasting in a quick snap shot by Leggio from a sweet pass by Mark Stone on a 2-1 break. Robinson then crushes Casey Wellman with his shoulder that sends him to the ice. The Bears get on the board as Tyson Strachan gets his first of the season with a shot through a mass of bodies surrounding Lawson and cut the lead to one.
Bingo goes on the power play and gets some nice puck movement but can’t manage a shot on goal as Hershey’s defense does a good job killing it. Good pace to the game as both teams get their chances. Darren Kramer‘s hard shot is gloved by Leggio. Andre Petersson then makes a nice move around Cameron Schilling and goes strong to the net but is denied as Leggio has now found his rhythm. Hershey has a late man advantage opportunity slip by as Jamie Johnson whiffs on the shot up close from a behind the net feed by Jeff Taffe as the horn blows signalling the end of the first.
Onto the second as Sens kill off the penalty. That would change as Josh Brittain comes bulldogging his way on the right side of the zone and shoots on Lawson that gets deflected by Chris Wideman‘s skate back to Brittain and he taps it into the empty net to tie up the game at two a piece. Soon after the Bears go up by a goal when Nicolas Deschamps scores off his own rebound past Lawson, 3-2.
Senators applying pressure and had a golden opportunity to tie things up while Eckford’s shot in the crease was once again denied by Leggio as he makes the save of the game with a leg save. On the play Derek Grant would make a nice pass to the defenseman alone in front of the net as we should be all tied up at three. Even the goal horn came on briefly but Leggio comes up huge. Mark Borowiecki makes a brutal hit on Wellman along the boards that sends him down to the ice.
Start of the third is underway and Binghamton can’t cash in. Scary moment as Wellman takes a puck to the face off of Wideman’s shot from the point and is helped off the ice. After, Matt Puempel‘s shot hits Leggio and Stephane Da Costa can’t get the puck to anyone open for the rebound. Senators would make a ferocious comeback to try and send it to overtime but Deschamps comes barreling down into the zone and lays a high slapper that roofs the cage by Lawson for a 4-2 Bears lead. That would take the wind out of the Senators sails as Leggio is playing with all the confidence he needs to leg out his fourth win of the season.
NOTES
- Boro put on a hitting clinic tonight however he seemed a bit sluggish with the puck. Shane Prince was a late scratch and Cole Schneider should be ready to go Saturday as both players were missed as the Sens hit a wall on their offense, but did get many opportunities.
- Hershey played a tight defensive game and seemed to be the better team in getting to loose pucks as they held together while Bingo was relentless in trying to score on Leggio. Bingo ended up leading in shots with 39 while the Bears managed 28.
- This was the first game without the services of Mike Hoffman as the Senators will miss his scoring finesse but should be able to cover his loss, somewhat. Borowiecki returns as the Captain and Grant wore the A on his jersey.
3 STARS OF THE GAME
- #1 Deschamps (2g)
- #2 Leggio (37 saves)
- #3 Strachan (1g 2a)
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HIGHLIGHTS
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Saturday Night host Albany Devils