In what turned out to be a goaltending dual, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms beat the Binghamton Senators 3-2 in overtime. In another wild finish similar to a Feb 18th Senators OT win here in Allentown, late goals were scored in a see saw battle that could’ve gone either way. The loss ruined the two goal effort from Ryan Dzingel, who also scored in a fight while in the process knocking out a linesman as well.
GAME RECAP
Binghamton with some good legs on an early power play as goaltender Anthony Stolarz keeps the game scoreless until what appeared to be a Senator goal by Carter Camper on a Phantom turnover, as he shoots top shelf but is waved off. Play is under review but the no goal stands. Soon after Lehigh Valley gets on-board with Kevin Goumas’ hard one-timer from the right circle gets past Peter Mannino with Zack Stortini assisting for a 1-0 lead.
More from Belleville Senators
- Belleville Senators: What To Expect In 2023-24
- David Bell Officially Appointed as Belleville Head Coach
- What To Expect From Ottawa Senators’ Pending UFA’s
- BREAKING: Belleville Senators sign Ryan Bednard to PTO
- Belleville Senators acquire Graham McPhee
Phantoms Nick Cousins picks the wrong guy to trade punches with in Dzingel and gets hammered with Ryan landing rights, one of them even knocking out linesman Matt McNulty to the ice with a shot to the back of the head as he was attempting to break it up. After a lengthy pause with McNulty laying on the ice, he heads off with only 14.5 seconds left.
Camper sets up Daniel New as his shot is swallowed up by Stolarz and then gets a glove on Cole Schneider from the slot as his work has been spot on so far. Patrick Mullen rings another one off the post on a Senator power play. Lehigh Valley’s Scott Laughton shot is blocked by the helmet of Mannino as Taylor Leier swats the puck waist-high and it trickles towards the goal line but Mannino stops the progress before it crosses. Mannino saves a breakaway attempt by Kevin Goumas slapper with Stortini swatting at Mannino’s glove as he shoves him out of the slot.
In the third at 17:10 Dzingel scores on a long rebound given up by a Stolarz save on Mullen as this game is tied up at 1-1. 2:50 later, a Adam Comrie turnover would be costly as Dzingel swoops in and tucks the puck on a backhander off the left skate of Stolarz for the go ahead goal by the Senators, Dzingel’s second and a 2-1 lead. Then on a Phantoms power play, they win the faceoff as rookie Jesper Pettersson’s drive from the point is poked in past Mannino by Brett Hextall to tie the game once again and we head to overtime once again.
In the OT, Phantoms are victorious as Cousins appears to get the redirect off a rocket of a shot from the stick of Brandon Manning from his blue line past Mannino’s right shoulder with 3:33 left for the 3-2 win.
NOTES & OBSERVATIONS
- Linesman McNulty skated out at the start of the second but soon left midway through the period leaving one other linesman and a single referee the rest of the way.
- Camper’s first period shot sure looked like it went in according to their play-by-play announcer as Binghamton had a total of three posts tonight. Shots were 35-27 in favor of LV.
- Senators booster club made the trip with a few dozen seated behind Stolarz.
- Great performance by the rookie Dzingel tonight. Kid plays hard and has grown so much as the season rolls on.
- Phantoms last played on Saturday against Hartford and have lost eight of the last eleven at home before tonight’s win.
B-SENS LINES
Forwards – Prince-Camper-Schneider, Dzingel-D Grant-Mills, Guptill-Tassone-Robinson, Kramer-McCormick-Thompson
Defense – Claesson-Lepine, Johnson-Mullen, New-Wideman
Out – Mike Sdao, Alex Grant and David Dziurzynski, injured.
UP NEXT
Senators bus up I 88 for an afternoon affair with the Albany Devils on Sunday.
Next: Hershey Bears Win Big In 5-1 Rout Over Binghamton Senators