Chris Wideman Scores In OT To Complete B-Sens Rally Over Pens

Chris Wideman scores the game winning power play goal in overtime from his blue line to help defeat W/B-Scranton by a score of 4-3. Binghamton would come back from a 3-1 margin to send the Pens to their fifth straight loss and the Sens third win in a row. Mark Stone had a goal and an assist while Andrew Hammond made 29 saves for his third win in as many games. Senators would take the early 1-0 lead before giving up three unanswered goals to rally back with three unanswered of their own. With the win, Binghamton opens up a four point cushion over second place Hershey in the East.

GAME RECAP

No Stephane Da Costa in the line up as Jean-Gabriel Pageau slides into his spot centering Mike Hoffman and Stone. Corey Cowick gets the Senators on the board first with his 11th as his wrist shot beats Jeff Deslauriers for the 1-0 lead. Nice pass from Wacey Hamilton along the boards on the play finding Cowick alone in the slot. Hamilton rushes in on a 2-1 but his shot is blocked as the fourth line has good jump to their game with the Sens having an edge.

Penguins would even the contest when Harry Zolnierczyk was left all alone far post as his one timer scores easily with Hammond not being able to cover in time as he was dialed in on Nick Drazenovic away from the net. Pens go on the power play with Tyler Eckford in for hooking and they make it count when Drazenovic scores his 11th of the season on his blistering one timer from a pass by Brian Gibbons. The goal looks identical to their first and are in front 2-1 as the Senators need to make some adjustments in man coverage in their zone. Pens would finish the period strong.

Binghamton starts the second strong as Pageau leads a 3-1 but his attempted pass to Hoffman gets interrupted by Simon Despres‘s stick breaking up the play. Matt Puempel slapper stopped by Deslauriers but the rebound sails up high off the crossbar from Andre Petersson‘s shot. Deslauriers makes a skate save on Shane Prince as the run and gun type of play favors the Senators’ style. Hammond sharp save on Andrew Ebbett but Tom Kostopoulos and Wideman go off slashing each other and get penalties on the play.

Brendan Mikkelson extends the Penguins lead to two on the power play scoring his fourth of the season with Hoffman in the box serving four minutes. His soft wrister from the blue line has eyes for the back of the net fooling Hammond. Three unanswered tally’s by W/B-Scranton in the game would end as Puempel answers scoring his 19th from a behind the net pass from Derek Grant shooting in on Deslauriers to make it a one goal game, 3-2. Sens turn to finish the period on a strong note.

Hammond starts out the third with a save on a Pens odd man rush and following that with another by Mikkelson’s slapper. Spencer Machacek trips up Petersson and gets the call as the Senators look to tie things up on their third  power play of the evening. That is what would happen as the special teams first unit replaces the second and Stone gets the goal for his 12th of the season. Pageau fed Mark out front of the net for the tap in for Binghamton to come back from being down by two knotting things up at three a piece.

Senators in control the last ten minutes of play and getting scoring opportunities but Deslauriers is there to shut the door. Frederik Claesson with a pair of big hits on Adam Payerl and Harry Zolnierczyk knocking them both to the ice. Senators get a late, crucial power play when Machacek high sticks Petersson with 23 seconds left in the third that the Sens look to capitalize and win this game. It’ll have to wait though as overtime is about to begin with each team earning a point.

Overtime sets in as the Sens are skating with the man advantage and make quick work out of it as Wideman shoots from the blue line through traffic and in by Deslauriers for the game winner and his seventh of the season. Hoffman and Stone with the assists as they worked the puck up high in the familiar triangle set up, 4-3 and Binghamton gets the extra point.

NOTES & OBSERVATIONS

• Hoffman with three rare undisciplined penalties with one resulting in a goal as Mike appeared frustrated throughout the game. His two unsportsmanlike conducts took place with the first shooting the puck after the whistle was blown and the second after having some words with referee Dave Lewis after a slashing call. The second misconduct leading up to the Penguins third goal of the game.
• Hammond played well for his 16th win of the season surpassing Nathan Lawson‘s 15. The first two goals were bang-bang plays which he had no chance at. The Pens third he might have had but the soft shot looked to get re-directed in front of the net off a Senators leg. Lawson should be ready by the weekend but at this point I would ride Andrew’s coat tails for as long as the club is winning.
• Senators played a very good road win and had some jump all throughout the game. You could sense a goal was coming in OT as they skated a four on three power play as they improved to 7-1 on the season in the extra session of play.

3 STARS OF THE GAME

• #1 Wideman (gwg)
• #2 Drazenovic (1g 2a)
• #3 Kostopoulos (2a)

HIGHLIGHTS

NEXT GAME

Friday Night vs. Hamilton Bulldogs in Montreal at Bell Centre.

ARTICLE PIC(S)

Cover photo and courtesy of Jeff Ulmer.