Utica Comets’ Jacob Markstrom Blanks Listless Binghamton Senators

One team showed up, the other did not as Utica Comets’ net-minder Jacob Markstrom backstop’s the 1-0 win over the Binghamton Senators. That would be Markstrom’s AHL best fourth shutout in six games already sending the best team in the league to their eighth victory in 11 contests. The Senators didn’t mount much of any offensive threats throughout the night as they were out-shot by a 34-19 margin, sending them to their sixth loss that now occupies the basement of the East Division.

GAME RECAP

Utica’s Carter Bancks wrap-around attempt is stopped by Andrew Hammond and shortly after Darren Kramer drops the gloves with Alexandre Grenier as the two exchanges a few punches in front of the Senator’s bench. Darren Archibald nearly gets a backhander through Hammond in the crease and then stops the puck of the stick of Bobby Sanguinetti as the Comets control the early tempo in the opening period.

Ronalds Kenins drops Patrick Mullen in the corner and Jean-Gabriel Pageau takes exception going after Kenins as those two wrestle around, but Pageau receives an instigator call which is an automatic 10 minute misconduct that’ll keep him off the ice for the next 17 minutes of play. With 6:19 left Nicklas Jensen receives a lead pass from Dustin Jeffrey and finds an opening on Hammond’s stick side for a 1-0 lead. An apparent late Senator goal is waved off as contact was made on Markstrom knocking him off-balance with the referee right there making the call from behind the net.

More from Belleville Senators

Binghamton begins the second with an overall improvement as they seemed to have found their legs during the intermission with much better fore-checking and defense. Markstrom deflects Shane Prince’s one-timer near the side of the cage and Hammond blocks Grenier’s shot from the high slot. Utica’s Archibald exchanges pleasantries with Mike Sdao from the benches and both end up with unsportsmanlike’s.

Jensen and Jeffrey can’t connect while on a three on one break missing a one-timer, then Alex Grant comes up with a nicely timed poke check on Archibald fresh out of the box. Markstrom squeezes the pads stopping Buddy Robinson’s shot near the crease as he keeps the door shut preserving the shutout. A late surge in the middle frame by the Comets as Grenier hits the far post but the score remains 1-0.

Utica, with early shots on net to start the third, is stopped with Hammond smothering pucks. Chris Wideman is denied on the other end of the ice as his wrister is re-directed in front but Markstrom gets a leg on it. Pageau with a big hit on former Senator Wacey Hamilton as he is slow in getting to his feet. Markstrom standing tall in the final five minutes diving on loose pucks and putting up a wall, but with Hammond pulled under a minute left, Senators don’t get to mount a comeback and lose their sixth of the season.

NOTES & OBSERVATIONS

  • Matt Puempel (2 goals, 4 assists, 11 gms) is off to a quiet start but did managed four shots tonight. Prince as well (2 goals, 3 assists, 9 gms).
  • Robinson and Garrett Thompson were both effective killing off an early Senator penalty in the first period as Robinson has been relied on the PK often this season.
  • Again the problem remains in not giving a full 60 minute effort as the first period was poorly executed which resulted on the game winner by Utica.
  • Wideman had his 9-game point streak come to an end.
  • With Jakub Culek sent back to Evansville, Alex Guptill slides back to the fourth line making room for Prince’s return on the second and pushing Puempel back on the first line.
  • Hammond (2-6-2, 3.52, 0.906) played well keeping his team in it. He has dropped his last five decisions as Scott Greenham should see some action this weekend giving Andrew a much-needed rest.

PLAYER’S  SPOTLIGHT CARD

B+. Hammond was the only player to show up in that first period keeping the contest to a one goal difference that could have been easily two or three had it not been for his steady play. No softies given up tonight as that game winner by Nicklas Jensen was a quick shot that had him fooled. Too bad his team couldn’t bail him out of his fifth consecutive loss as the offense was non-existent in this one.. Goaltender. Binghamton Senators. ANDREW HAMMOND

B-SENS LINES

Forwards – Puempel-Pageau-Robinson, Prince-Dzingel-Schneider, Thompson-D Grant-Camper, Guptill-Kramer-Hobbs

Defense – Claesson-Grant, Johnson-Mullen, Sdao-Wideman..Hammond in goal.

Out – Brad Mills, Gm. #8 of 20 gm. AHL Suspension. Max McCormick, upper body. Daniel New, healthy. David Dziurzynski, day-to-day.

UP NEXT

Binghamton travels to Rochester for the first meeting of the season against the Amerks on Friday.