Binghamton Senators Get 60 Minute Effort In 3-1 Win Over Amerks

Good things will happen when you have a 60 minute effort and play solid defense as the Binghamton Senators send the Rochester Americans to their third straight loss by coming back from being down by a goal to registering three unanswered as they win 3-1. The win snaps Andrew Hammond‘s five game losing streak as he made 24 saves, as the 25 shots is the lowest of the season the club has allowed, with Sens ending up with 35.

GAME RECAP

Structure is there, defense looks to be communicating and overall general play is controlled by the Senators and keeping things simple. A Rochester power play is negated when Chad Ruhwedel trips up Derek Grant as he was coming in the zone shorthanded. Four on four play doesn’t create any harm, but Rochester’s William Carrier gets a high-sticking call as Nathan Lieuwen gets a blocker save on Chris Wideman’s slapper. Sens play is a little scrambled and don’t get set up for any threats on the man advantage.

Rochester scores first when Mikhail Grigorenko receives a go ahead pass from Joel Armia as Danny New looses his balance leaving Grigorenko in alone on Andrew Hammond and fakes him out with a high shot, far side of the net for a 1-0 game. The play appeared off sides as Grigorenko had speed up the middle but linesman said otherwise. Senators almost tie it up with a shot from the point gets behind Lieuwen and is on the goal line before Nick Petrecki swats it out of harm’s way. After a whistle, referee signals no goal after video review.

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Garrett Thompson almost scores on his own net as his deflection out front forces Hammond to get a piece of it right in the slot. Lieuwen with a nice save on Matt Puempel with Jean-Gabriel Pageau trailing between the circles. Alex Guptill and Jake McCabe drop the mitts after McCabe’s hit near center ice, as the two tie each other up with few punches landing. Senators pressing putting Rochester back on their heels as the play stays in the Sens offensive zone, with Lieuwen keeping the game tied with Amerks bodies standing around.

Finally, Senators get one as Rochester cracks when Patrick Mullen’s slap shot is stopped by Lieuwen but Ryan Dzingel is left unattended by the side of the net flipping in the rebound to tie it up 1-1. Carter Camper gets the secondary assist as he had a big shift in keeping the puck in the zone looking for scoring opportunities. Lieuwen is forced to make several key saves on Pageau, Alex Grant, and Camper as the Senator’s power play has looked decent tonight.

Senators play good defense keeping the forwards out on the perimeter during a penalty kill with Wideman off for cross-checking early in the third. Their hard work would pay off as Camper’s shot from near the wall gets kicked out to the other side with Guptill ready as he buries it home for a 2-1 lead. That would be Guptill’s second of the season with Camper’s second assist of the game. Senators continue to play tight defense bottling up the forwards and handling loose pucks in the slot.

With 6:23 left Binghamton’s Shane Prince gives his team a two goal cushion with a perfect, hard wrist shot beating Lieuwen glove side from a difficult angle by the goal line. That insurance tally would be the third unanswered goal by the Sens. Lieuwen is pulled for the extra attacker but again solid fore-checking and defense deflated any attack put up by the Amerks as Binghamton wins it 3-1.

NOTES & OBSERVATIONS

• What a beauty from Prince as he crossed the high slot to the left circle and shooting up high for his 3rd of the season. Fans could be heard cheering the goal for the excited forward from Spencerport, NY.
• Puempel and Pageau moved the puck well with ample amounts of scoring chances. Camper looked great as well tonight, maybe that he’s centering the fourth line will give him some confidence and turn his season around.
• New’s first game on defense was sub-par, as he got burned badly on Rochester’s lone goal.
• Man that Amerks first goal was definitely off-sides by a mile. I don’t often make excuses, but as I watched the play develop I said to myself this had better not turn into a goal, and it did.
• Coach continues to tweak the line up looking for the right combinations. Robinson slides down to third line, Schneider takes his spot, Thompson moves up to second. Dziurzynski returns and it all panned out. I doubt there will be any changes in Saturday’s game against the Penguins.

PLAYER’S  SPOTLIGHT CARD

B-SENS LINES

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

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

Out – Brad Mills, Gm. #8 of 20 gm. AHL Suspension. Max McCormick, upper body. Mike Sdao, ill. Danny Hobbs, healthy.

UP NEXT

Binghamton will face the WB/Scranton Penguins Saturday night at home for the first time since last season’s 1st round playoffs.