Senators Lay A Stinker In Losing To The Phantoms 5-3

I’m so glad we don’t have to play the Adirondack Phantoms again this season.

For some reason, the Senators show up and play some bad hockey against this Adirondack team and again tonight, for a second game in a row, proved it losing 5-3 in Glens Falls, NY. and lose the season series 4-2. Binghamton was held scoreless on the power play again, this time 0 for 6. For as much of a high scoring offense like the Sens we sure haven’t shown it the last two contests.

GAME RECAP

Adirondack gets the jump and controls the early contest peppering Andrew Hammond early and often. Sens go on the power play but don’t generate anything as they look sluggish with no shots on  Yann Danis. Both teams exchange opportunities but its Adirondack with the higher percentage shots. As the momentum carries over to the Phantoms way, Petr Straka scores his sixth as he walks in down the middle by the defense untouched and beating Hammond down low with a backhander giving Adirondack a 1-0 lead.

Jim O’Brien‘s shot is deflected out by Danis leg save. Rob Bordson hits the post on a breakaway as he had Hammond beat but shortly after Kris Newbury would make it count with his eleventh of the season beating Hammond with a hard slapper from the left circle making it 2-0 game. Andrew not getting the support he needs and his team is lucky to be only down by two.

Straka continues to have a strong game shooting in on Hammond to start the second. Mike Sdao and Zack FitzGerald tussle after the whistle as Sdao drops the mitts but FitzGerald walks away. Senators on another power play when Cole Schneider can’t pull the trigger from Chris Wideman‘s pass in the slot.

Corey Cowick finally breaks his scoring slump as he notches his fifth of the season beating Danis on a breakaway to make it a one goal game. However, shortly after Tye McGinn‘s shot over a down on all fours Hammond’s right restores Adirondack’s two goal cushion making it a 3-1 contest. McGinn was all alone as he had Andrew beat.

Towards the tail end of the second Wacey Hamilton scores a shorthanded goal, his second of the season making it a 3-2 game. The play resulted on a 2-1 as Danis read pass while Hamilton elected to shoot instead beating the seven-year veteran down low. As the horn blows Wideman wrestles with Matt Mangene and gets a few rights in as Chris winds up flat on his back with Mangene’s takedown.

Time to figure out if the momentum gained by Binghamton at the end of the second carries on to the third as Newbury gets the first of his three penalties of the period off for cross checking. For the Senators, their fourth of the night but Shane Prince took a careless hooking call against Ben Holmstrom to put an end what looked liked a good flowing power play unit. That would also put a dagger into the B-Sens when Jason Akeson racks up his 12th with Prince in the box  by means of a wrist shot that Hammond should have had to make it 4-2 game.

Danis stops Cowick’s rebound shot that was taken by Hamilton on a 2-1. Senators dial-up the tempo and start putting pressure on the Phantoms when David Dziurzynski nails Akeson into the corner boards with no call but Newbury interjects Dizzy and gets the roughing call putting Binghamton back on the power play once again. Phantoms kill it but Newbury, fresh out of the box, begins chirping at the officials and finds himself back into the sin bin for the unsportsmanlike call and yet another power play opportunity for the Senators. That would end his evening as Terry Murray is not happy and benches the centerman despite his goal and assist in the game.

It won’t matter as the power play is nonexistent as the team is stinking up the joint. The two teams exchange goals near the end of the third with Cowick deflecting Wideman’s slapper in past Danis with Hammond pulled, and after the ensuing faceoff, Holmstrom scores his seventh into the Sens empty net making it a 5-4 final. Shots are tied up at 34 a piece.

NOTES & OBSERVATIONS

• Sens 0 for 6 tonight on the power play and 0-14 the last two games. This was supposed to be the team’s bread and butter but it hasn’t panned out lately. We needed to capitalize on a few pp goals and the game would’ve been right there for the taking but just could not get it done.
• Wideman’s second fight in as many games showing his confidence with his playing and throwing the mitts down. Handled himself alright for a player not knowing for his fighting skills.
• I don’t know whether to put all the blame on Hammond, the D, or combination of both as for the second game in a row just a really bad outing. How can this happen when just last week this team beat Rochester on the road and put up a clinic against Hershey on Saturday? Stephane Da Costa now held scoreless in his last five games.
• If both teams make the post season play, let’s be sure the Senators don’t get Adirondack involved in any series as they have our number.
• Top line misses Mark Stone and is being overworked causing for some concern. Jean-Gabriel Pageau‘s return will help as Luke will surely mix up the combinations in the line-up to help get things back on track.

3 STARS OF THE GAME

• #1 Straka (1g 1a)
• #2 McGinn (1g 1a)
• #3 Cowick (2g 1a)

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HIGHLIGHTS

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