This game had to be won and if not, I don’t know if the recovery period would be as quick as others especially with the Ottawa Senators’ brass in town, as Ryan Dzingel lifted the Binghamton Senators to an overtime victory over the talented Manchester Monarchs by a score of 4-3. They battled, they fought, and they pleased the big crowd in only their second home win of the season, but what a spirited effort it was in ending the Monarchs’ six game win streak.
GAME RECAP
Just over three minutes into the game Mike Sdao sends a knuckler from way out near his blue line that Manchester’s goaltender Jean-Francois Berube misplayed with his glove giving the Senators an early 1-0 lead. That would last only 25 seconds though when Monarch’s Nick Shore gets the equalizer in front receiving a no look pass from Brian O’Neil in the corner and in past starter Andrew Hammond for the tie score.
The Senators quickly go to work on the power play and regain the lead on a designed tic-tac-toe passing play with Cole Schneider bringing home the bacon by Berube’s doorstep. Then comes back Manchester on a power play of their own with Chris Wideman in the box as Jordan Weal picks up a loose puck in front and swiftly roofs it past Hammond as the previous play was broken up by a Hammond save. Senators have unsuccessful breakaway’s from Ryan Dzingel and Schneider to close out the first.
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Second period begins with some chippy play as both teams are involved with one another after whistles are blown and engaging in some minor skirmishes. Sens strike with Scott Sabourin in the box for slashing, Wideman unloads from top circle and slaps home the go ahead goal putting Binghamton back on top 3-2. Sdao lands a big hit on O’Neil dazing him and gives an extra nudge down to the ice.
Dzingel does his part and checks Sean Backman at center ice, but Nic Dowd takes it personal and challenges the rookie to a fight, with Dzingle getting some shots in and takes down Dowd, much to the delight of the big crowd. Manchester gets an apparent goal waved off as Michael Mersch’s stick was above his shoulder’s as he batted in the puck keeping the Senators lead intact. It was a close call but hard to review it from overhead as the ref had the angle by the side of the net.
Hammond with a big save on rookie Justin Auger as we are underway in the third. Another from Hammy this time on Backman, but Shore proves his values on the ice and scores his second of the evening and 10th overall, as he bats in the puck and ties up the contest once again. Then the fireworks begin as all hell breaks loose.
As all the after whistle build-up’s continues, Sdao has had enough with all the trash talk going around and let’s his fists do the talking with Sabourin on a lengthy battle with both crashing to the ice. Max McCormick breaks out from the gathering with some words with Kevin Raine and Darren Kramer is angry and wants a piece of Andrew Crescenzi. As those two develop, David Dziurzynski and Kevin Gravel get tangled up on another lengthy battle as Dizzy appears to score the win.
Schneider had the game won near the end of the period as his shot rings off the post with Berube out of position from a Wideman cannon from the point. It all goes for naught happily, as in the overtime at 5:18 Dzingel lifts the Senators to victory as he grabs a Wideman pass and curls one around Berube’s toe and slips in the game winner as the bench empties in jubilation near the corner boards.
NOTES & OBSERVATIONS
- Manchester is a very big team and very skilled as the Senators brought their A game with them tonight and it showed. Impressive win.
- Both Ottawa Senators’ GM Assistants and B-Sens GM Randy Lee and Pierre Dorion are in town along with several of their scouts in taking in both weekend games as well as Ottawa’s 3:00 game on Saturday against St. Louis to be shown on the video boards.
- Quick, crisp passing on Binghamton’s second goal between Matt Puempel, Jean-Gabriel Pageau and to Schneider as their was no puck possession time, just one time passes. Really good set up play.
- Berube was shaky in the first but Hammond looked great and kept his nose in it without giving up.
- Senators’ Buddy Robinson looked good playing on the penalty kill as that seems where the organization is leading him and it’s paying off on the experiment.
- Suspension looms for Dizzy as he nudged Gravel’s head to the ice after his fight’s take-down with Gravel, not as violently as Trevor Gillies did to William Carrier early this season which resulted to a 12 game ban, but something might come as a result.
- Kramer and Sdao were going at it in the penalty box pretty good with Sabourin and Crescenzi as all four could be heard exchanging words with Kramer just simply unloading vulgarities at Crescenzi. That was one angry man. All four of those players were ejected due to game misconducts.
- Nice home win as the team played a great game and Hammond was solid in net making 39 saves. Hope they don’t have a hangover in Saturday’s match with the Devils.
PLAYER’S SPOTLIGHT CARD
B-SENS LINES
Forwards – Dzingel-Pageau-Schneider, Puempel-D Grant-Robinson, Guptill-Camper-Prince, Kramer-McCormick-Dziurzynski
Defense – Claesson-Grant, Johnson-Mullen, Sdao-Wideman
Out – Brad Mills, Gm. #12 of 20 gm. AHL Suspension. Danny Hobbs, Danny New and Garrett Thompson all healthy scratches.
UP NEXT
Binghamton has the second of two home games this weekend with the Albany Devils on Saturday.
*Cover Pic & Insert Courtesy of SenShot’s Photographer Alicia Strauch