Binghamton Senators Hold On Defeating LV Phantoms

The Binghamton Senators defeated the Lehigh Valley Phantoms 3-2 in an emotionally charged atmosphere before a SRO crowd in downtown Allentown, PA. Just a feisty night for hockey as this is growing to be a big rival carrying over from the Adirondack days as these two teams simply don’t like one another as love was definitely not in the air in this one.

GAME RECAP

Senators strike at 17:48 in the first as defenseman Guillaume Lepine scores from inside his blue line with a wrist shot beating Phantoms goaltender Rob Zepp high glove side for his first career goal in the AHL for a 1-0 lead. Shane Prince wrist shot is saved by Zepp as Senators are buzzing taking advantage of a handful of Phantoms’ turnovers. Buddy Robinson misses a great scoring chance missing the net off a rebound from Fredrik Claesson’s shot as he was parked by the side of the net.

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Carter Camper forces a turnover on Jason Akeson and finds Matt Puempel out front and pushes the puck into the back of the net for a 2-0 Binghamton lead. Robinson draws a five-minute elbowing major which ends his night with the automatic game misconduct, but not before Phantoms’ Steven Delisle going after him dropping the gloves as he lands with a series of lefts which buckles Buddy as blood pours from his nose. Lehigh Valley gets a late goal with 1.2 left when Nick Cousins banks a shot off of Peter Mannino high on the rebound as players milling around after the horn goes off.

Into the second period with the Senators leading 2-1, Zepp robs Brad Mills shorthanded try. Binghamton has a five on three power play with good puck control but Zepp answers. Darren Kramer’s high hit on Akeson doesn’t go unnoticed as the 6′ 6″ Delise jumps after Kramer and connects with several lefts, as his night is over with his second fight of the game as things remain heated between the two teams. Finally, the Sens get a power play goal they were looking for from Prince in front, his 18th, as he picks up a pass from the corner by Puempel with 36 seconds left and it’s 3-1.

Claesson rings one off the iron and LV’s Darroll Powe slapper is kicked aside by Mannino. With Phantoms breathing down Binghamton’s back on a five on three man advantage, one penalty expires but they would make it a one goal game off the stick of Brandon Manning as his one-timer from the circle beats Mannino with Zack Stortini setting the screen in front. Lehigh Valley with momentum trying to tie it up but Binghamton hangs on with Mannino’s strong play. Shots favor Binghamton 32-30.

NOTES & OBSERVATIONS

Robinson’s mauling by Delise in the 2nd preceded by rookie Taylor Leier’s hit on Derek Grant, which Robinson jumped in to protect his teammate. Delise was chirping away at Buddy as he was off to the box.
Prince #1 star with his game winner in the 2nd as Puempel picking up the 2nd star with his goal and assist, as he finished with 4 shots and a +1.
Binghamton doesn’t score on a 5 on 3 as they end up 1/6 on the power play and at one point 6 minutes straight time of man advantage as they had their chances but Zepp was large.
Senators and Phantoms are 1 – 2 in the league in PIM and majors as this heated contest resulted in 48 minutes for the Sens and 55 for the Phantoms that featured 3 fights.
Prince and Puempel broken up on the first line as Colin Greening (1 assist) finds himself on the 3rd line and Daniel New played forward on the 4th.

B-SENS LINES

Forwards – Prince-D Grant-Robinson, Puempel-Camper-Schneider, Greening-Mills-Dzingel, New-Kramer-Thompson

Defense – Claesson-A Grant, Johnson-Tuzzolino, Lepine-Wideman

Out – Mike Sdao, Patrick Mullen, Max McCormick and David Dziurzynski, all injured. Alex Guptill, healthy.

UP NEXT

Senators travel up north of the border as they take on the Toronto Marlies for a pair of back to back games beginning Sunday afternoon in Ottawa.

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