The Binghamton Senators opened up the season on the losing end by a score of 3-2 in overtime as Ryan Dzingel scored two goals for the Senators. The teams combined for 91 shots as Andrew Hammond stopped 45 in the overtime loss spoiling the home opener. Ex-Sens Matt Taormina scored the game winner with just :26 seconds left as the game appeared to be heading for a shoot-out that could have went either way.
B-SENS LINES
Forwards – Puempel-Pageau-Robinson, Prince-Camper-Schneider, Kramer-Grant-Dziurzynski, McCormick-Dzingel-Thompson
Defense – Claesson-Mullen, Johnson-A Grant, Sdao-Wideman..Hammond in goal.
Brad Mills out, upper body. Alex Guptill, Daniel New healthy scratches.
GAME RECAP
Worcester’s Ryan Carpenter finds a seam between Hammond’s pads as he was on his knees to jump ahead 1-0 as the puck trickled in on a deflection off of Carpenter’s stick from a bad angle. Worcester increases the tempo putting pressure on the Senators defense. Dzingel would even things up as he picks up the rebound from a Garrett Thompson shot and shoveling home the puck into the half empty net when Shark’s goaltender Troy Grosenick got caught out of position and couldn’t reach. Max McCormick gets an assist on the play for his first professional point.
The Sharks regain the lead from a nifty wrister from the stick of Micheal Haley beating Hammond up high from the slot for a 2-1 advantage. They end up the period with 19 shots compared to the Sens 12.
Second sees the Senators getting one of their chances cashing in when Dzingel nets his second of the night on a sweet pass from Derek Grant and skates in alone and beats Grosenick on an upper left bullet close in to form a tie game as the crowd goes wild. Not much of a physical contest but lots of up and down action.
Hammond with several good saves as he keeps the Senators in it. McCormick strips the puck from Taormina in the Sharks zone and hustles in on Grosenick only to be denied as he tried to deke the netminder. Senators end up playing better and tighten things up defensively.
Matt Puempel has a mini breakaway halted by Grosenick followed by the Senators three on one but missed the net. Derek with a nice haul down of Eriah Hayes as he shooken up on the play. Both teams have their chances in the period with Hammond with his best save of the game towards the end kicking the puck free from the crease. Puempel is again denied as finds himself all alone in on Grosenick but couldn’t get the handle on it as the game goes into overtime.
First time this new format has been tested with both teams skating four men aside as the Senators get their opportunities for the most part multiple times. After the whistle blows following the half way point shortly after, it’s now a 3 on 3 scenario. Binghamton find themselves on the losing end when Taormina scores on their only shot of the extra session at the 6:34 mark with three aside, on an odd play that surprised Hammond as it awkwardly goes in off his right leg as the Sharks celebrate in earning the extra point. At least the Sens get a point out of it.
NOTES & OBSERVATIONS
- Puempel, Dzingel, Thompson, McCormick, Grant and Jean-Gabriel Pageau all stood out on the offense with some quality opportunities as they all played well from what can be explained as a sluggish contest in exploiting the defense.
- Aaron Johnson wore the C and played well. Big guy, as he was paired up with Alex Grant on the second unit. Pageau and Patrick Mullen were the alternates.
- Hammond played good, but Grosenick was better. Andrew might had come up with the first one, but it appeared to be a fluke goal.
- Binghamton displayed their new uni’s as sorta a mix of old retro combined with new. Gone are the smaller number’s on the chest, along with the slide arrows on the upper part of the sleeves, as that has been replaced with three stripes to match player sock’s covering their shin pad’s.
- Overtime was delayed because of the dry scalp by the two Zamboni’s, but once action started Senators controlled play leaving off from the third. Whistle was blown shortly after the 3:30 mark and consisted of a 3-3. Derek, Mullen and Chris Wideman were the first trio followed by Pageau, Puempel and Johnson.
- Dzingel changed his number from #21 to #43 while Thompson went from #17 to #16. Johnson wore #72, Carter Camper #11, McCormick #17.
- Lots of attention on the new video system put into place as fans and players alike watched action and replays that really made one feel like this was not actually happening at the Arena. Couple glitches here and there but overall a really nice professional feel to it.
PLAYER’S SPOTLIGHT CARD
UP NEXT
The Sens get settled into their surroundings as the next game won’t take place until Friday against the Portland Pirates at home.
*Cover Photo & Insert’s Courtesy of Alicia Strauch.