Binghamton Coughs Up 3 Goal Lead, Rebound With Chris Wideman’s OT Winner
Chris Wideman continues to tear it up in the AHL out of the gate this season as he scores the game winner on a power play in overtime beating the Utica Comets 4-3 on Halloween night. The Senators played hard for the first 30 minutes in working up a three goal margin, but let the Comets come crawling back into it in the final 30 minutes to tie it up, eventually taking over in overtime for the victory snapping a three game losing streak. Goaltender Scott Greenham in for the win in his first action of the season shaking off the rust and putting an end to Utica’s four game winning streak.
GAME RECAP
Senators get the early jump in play and is rewarded as Buddy Robinson backhands a pass to Jean-Gabriel Pageau in the slot and his shot is blocked by Jacob Markstrom but Alex Guptill is there to put in the rebound for his first goal as a pro that ends Markstrom’s shutout record bid at 14:05 in the first. Senators continue to pressure the Comets forcing several turnovers in their zone but Markstrom is there for the saves.
Big pile up in Greenham’s goalmouth with him out of position, however Frank Corrado‘s shot misses the net. Greenham with a good leg save by another shot from Corrado keeping the Sens in front. Ryan Dzingel has a partial breakaway but is interfered with as Peter Anderson gets the hooking call. Then Binghamton, with some good puck control, gets a power play goal past Markstrom off a winding slapshot off the stick of Alex Grant inside the circle for a 2-0 lead. That’s Grant’s first of the season as Derek Grant was parked in front of the net ready to track a rebound. With 2.3 seconds left, Brandon DeFazio high sticks Aaron Johnson in back of Greenham’s net to end the period.
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Senators power play to start the second period comes up empty but keeps the Sens buzzing as they get another opportunity with Darren Archibald tangles with Darren Kramer and is off for roughing. Wideman cushion’s the lead with a quick wrist shot from the point for his 5th of the season and Senator’s second power play tally of the evening. Binghamton continues with excellent fore-checking keeping the Comets off balance.
Half-way through the middle frame, Senators’ game begins to unravel getting into some penalty troubles with three straight calls against them and Utica starts to find their game as the momentum begins to shift their way. Greenham with some good saves on Nicklas Jensen and Corrado to preserve the lead with them peppering shots in on net. Finally, the damn breaks when Travis Ehrhardt’s one timer off the faceoff surprises Greenham to put Utica on the board 3-1. Sens are saved by the horn and need to re-group during the intermission.
Kramer skates into the offensive zone along the boards and his shot is stopped by Markstrom as the third is underway. Johnson and Fredrik Claesson exchange shots but it’s Corrado scoring his first of the season from a cross ice pass by Henrik Tommernes and one times it home from the blue line past Greenham, through traffic cutting the lead to one. Soon after, Utica ties it up at with 9:45 left as Sens yields a power play goal with Jakub Culek in the box for hooking, Tommernes unloads from the blue line again finding the back of the net with his slapper.
Both teams end regulation tied 3-3 heading into OT, and it’s the Senators with a break as Tommernes hooks Pageau while gunning for the net in the crease. Four on three action with good puck movement in the offensive zone, Wideman one-times a shot that had eyes for the back of the net for the game winner as players mob the defenseman at center ice. Great puck work with Johnson the primary assist and Pageau the secondary for his third assist of the game for the win.
NOTES & OBSERVATIONS
- Dzingel in for Carter Camper on 2nd line while Camper moves down to wing on third line. Ryan played great and made a difference with two partial breakaways as he is very quick on his feet.
- Pageau with three assists tonight including the game winner.
- Nice win for Greenham, as that is all he does is win going 5-0-1 spanning three seasons serving as back-up. A little rust in the first but improved with some timely saves, followed by a little luck near the end.
- Momentum shifted when Claesson was called for hooking, followed by Wideman’s cross-check giving the Comets a brief 5-3, but another Senator penalty by Culek shortly after extended the man advantage.
- Senators gave up 44 shots for the the 7th time over 40 allowed, capped in the second period with a 20-6 difference.
- Power play units were a impressive season high 3/6 against the #1 rated penalty kill of the league.
- Prince and Dziurzynski scratched tonight but should be available for Saturday.
PLAYER’S SPOTLIGHT CARD
B-SENS LINES
Forwards – Guptill-Pageau-Robinson, Puempel-Dzingel-Schneider, Thompson-D Grant-Camper, Kramer-Culek-Hobbs
Defense – Claesson-Grant, Johnson-Mullen, Sdao-Wideman..Greenham in goal.
Out – Brad Mills, Gm. #6 of 20 gm. AHL Suspension. Max McCormick, upper body. Daniel New, upper body. Shane Prince and David Dziurzynski, day-to-day.
UP NEXT
Syracuse Crunch visit their rival’s down south for a 7:05 pm face-off in Binghamton.