Pageau Nets Overtime Goal As Binghamton Senators Sweep Norfolk

Wow, what a game, what a team and what a goal by Jean-Gabriel Pageau.

With the game in overtime Pageau saw an opening and the race was on. Beating a defender and his turnover along the blue line, Jean-Gabriel saw some light and sped down the ice along the boards and swooped in front of the net patiently shooting high for the game winner.

As the Binghamton Senators came back and got into a shooting match with the Norfolk Admirals and would prevail in the end 6-5 in overtime and sweep the two game series for the first time in their history. Senators break out with three third period goals for the second consecutive night as this team looked focused in winning this weekend. Stephane Da Costa and Pageau each finished with two goals and Scott Greenham won his second straight as Binghamton opens up a three-point cushion over W/B-Scranton, 2-1 losers to Utica, in winning five out of their last six.

GAME RE-CAP

A pair of fisticuffs to get out of the way in the opening period as Darren Kramer and John Kurtz get into it as the two have some issues to iron out from what transpired after  Friday night’s tilt as the two players quickly exchange some punches but Kramer gets the take down. Then Shane Prince and Max Friberg fight with Prince getting the most of it in knocking Friberg to the ice. Both fights don’t last long and things seem to be in order now as they got that out of their system.

Chris Wagner opens up the scoring by picking up his own rebound and shooting into the half empty net. His initial shot was kicked out by Greenham however the puck slithered over to Wagner as he was skating across the crease and was able to score easily. Just 26 seconds later Wagner gets another through Greenham’s five hole as I don’t know what Scott was doing on that play as he was somehow all tied up with no one around him. Just before the period is over, Pageau scored his 15th shooting high over a diving Brad Thiessen to make it a 2-1 game. Nice read from Cole Schneider as he found the open Pageau in front and untouched. Sens finish the period with only four shots.

A pair of goals would exchange in the period as Andre Petersson scores 50 seconds into the second getting his own rebound shooting up high on Greenham picking the right corner to put Norfolk back up by two. Petersson’s wrist shot was blocked by Greenham but he gave the puck right back to Petey in front. Then Derek Grant scores his 7th of the season taking a Prince dish from behind the net and is left all alone on Thiessen as he dekes the netminder and shoots low to get the Senators back to within one, 3-2.

Binghamton gets some close calls in the period as they seem to be getting more scoring opportunities than their counterparts. Mark Stone shooting in from out near the circle is denied, then Pageau undressed Steven Whitney through the legs at center ice and skates in and shoots high but Thiessen gets a glove on it. As the period unwinds David Dziurzynski‘s shot up close is stopped by Thiessen as the puck rolls up and around his shoulder and out to the corner for his biggest save of the night.

Mark Borowiecki and Nolan Yonkman start the third in the box each serving 10 minute misconduct’s boiling over from the end of the second. Binghamton applying pressure and get results with Da Costa scoring with a beauty of a wrist shot from out high in the slot beating Thiesson to tie up the game. Senators then take their first lead of the game as Da Costa nets his second of the period tapping in the loose puck that was dropped by Thiesson on Stone’s hard shot from outside the circle.

That lead would be short-lived as less than 40 seconds later Devante Smith-Pelly pots his 26th of the year getting the rebound off of a Wagner shot that bounces off the end boards right in front with Greenham on his back. Tough goal as bodies were all over down on the ice on the play. Senators get it back with Corey Cowick getting in the mix earning his 12th of the season shooting a nice wrist shot short side of the net as this game has opened up to a run and gun style that suits Binghamton as they are back up by a goal 5-4. Nice set up by Wacey Hamilton on the play serving a soft pass to the streaking Cowick down the middle.

Wagner then completes his hat trick as he skates around the net and gets a quick dish from Friberg in front as two Admirals sneaked their way in front of Greenham unscathed. Senators pressuring but Wagner’s clearing attempt finds the stands and receives the delay of game call to close out the period with Binghamton unable to connect as we are heading to overtime.

Pageau with great hustle, takes advantage of a Jesse Blacker turnover on his blue line and speeds in the offensive zone cutting across Blacker with ease in front of the net and shifts the puck from his backhand to the forehand and shoots high beating Thiesson easily for the game winner. Huge celebrating at center ice ensues with all black jerseys as the Senators get the extra point and outlast Norfolk 6-5.

NOTES & OBSERVATIONS

• First period fight between Kurtz and Kramer stems from last night’s game as after the horn blew Kramer apparently cut Kurtz on the nose with his stick. Kramer likes to make some noise not only with his chirping but also his stick I guess. That Prince fight may or may not have him taking exception for Friberg’s hit on Patrick Mullen along the boards, also from last night.
• Senators score 11 goals in the two contests against Norfolk who have given up the fewest goals in the AHL.
• Binghamton ‘improved’ to 15-32 lifetime at the Scope as that just shows how impressive the weekend really was. Great effort both nights against two very good goaltenders in John Gibson and Thiesson as the Senators seem to have the Admirals number this season winning five of six played.
• Both Da Costa and Wagner were +6 on the game. That’s just amazing. CORRECTION: Da Costa -1, Wagner +2
• Greenham has to work on his rebounds as goal one and three were all him, otherwise a valiant effort playing in back to back games and on the road to boot.

3 STARS OF THE GAME

• #1 Da Costa (2g)
• #2 Wagner (3g 1a)
• #3 Pageau (2g)

HIGHLIGHTS

NEXT GAME

Friday Night host St. John’s IceCaps.

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Cover photo courtesy of Jeff Ulmer.