Binghamton Senators On The Losing End In Tight One To Hershey Bears

The Hershey Bears got two early goals and hung on the rest of the way defeating the Binghamton Senators by a score of 2-1. It was a tight one as Senators’ goaltender Peter Mannino had a strong outing making key saves in stopping 30 shots, but it was the Bears defensive play that was the difference and earned them the two points putting an end to the Senators three game win streak.

GAME RECAP

Senators off to a good start to begin the contest with puck control until Danny Hobbs is whistled for goaltender interference as he was pushed into starter Pheonix Copley by Mike Moore on a poor call. Hershey makes it matter when Philippe Cornet skates along the wall into the zone towards the back of the cage and flips the puck to an unguarded Chris Brown in the crease for a power play goal giving the Bears a 1-0 lead.

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At 13:08 Tim Kennedy of the Bears makes a cross ice pass down low to Casey Wellman and his quick one timer beats Mannino glove side giving the visiting team a two goal cushion. Binghamton then finds themselves short two men when Fredrik Claesson’s clearing attempt sails over the glass and into the seats, however the Senators are able to kill it with the help of Brad Mills, Patrick Mullen and Mike Sdao.

Off into the second with the Senators on the power play with a call that carried over from late in the first period but fail to capitalize. Mannino with several good saves including flashing a glove on Cornet as he feels the pressure coming from the Bears. Frustration setting in for Binghamton as Hershey has played a tight defensive contest limiting the Senators to just two shots with six minutes left in the period as Mannino has kept

them in it. Shots are 24-16 Hershey after two with the Sens having only six in the second.

Senators finally score after Chris Wideman’s shot hits iron but Mills pokes the puck past the goal line while getting knocked to the ice to cut the lead by one. Binghamton attempts to tie it up but are held back with two penalties in the period as Mannino continues to have a strong outing with a great blocker save by a snap shot off the stick of defenseman Tomas Kundratek from the right circle.

Hershey would survive after a late fury by the Senators with Mannino pulled for the extra attacker as that ends their modest three game winning streak losing 2-1 in a tight one. Shots end up 32-22 Bears.

NOTES & OBSERVATIONS

• Sdao took a shot by Joel Broda in the neck area and was in pain laying on the ice with Senators’ trainer on his way out to assist, but bounced right back up and threw the puck back on the ice as he skated to the bench laboring in pain. He did end up finishing the game without missing a shift in the third.
• Mills continues to impress having a strong night as his hard nose type of play is what he’s known for and capable of doing with having scored the team’s lone goal.
• Senators top ranked power play layed a goose egg tonight going 0 for 5 including hitting the post several times late in the second period, but were more successful on the PK killing off 5 of 6.
• Senators wore their annual St. Patrick’s Day green jerseys that will be auctioned off after Saturday night’s game against the Wolf Pack.
• JOB scratched as he missed his seventh game due to injury, which may or may not have anything  to do with his broken nose suffered in a fight with Max McCormick two weeks ago.
• Defenseman Aaron Johnson served his first of his two game suspension as Troy Rutkowski was inserted in his place in the line up being paired up with Claesson.
• HOF Inductions were carried out in pregame ceremonies that featured former Binghamton Ranger Rob Zamuner, Ottawa Senators’ head equipment manager Scott Allegrino native from Binghamton and local organist Bob Moppert from the early days of hockey at The Arena.

B-SENS LINES

Forwards – Prince-Camper-Schneider, Dzingel-D Grant-Mills, Guptill-Hobbs-Thompson, Kramer-McCormick-Robinson

Defense – Claesson-Rutkowski, Lepine-Mullen, Sdao-Wideman

Out – Matt Tassone, Alex Grant and David Dziurzynski, all injured. Aaron Johnson, 1st of 2 game suspension. Danny New, healthy.

UP NEXT

Senators remain on home ice for Saturday’s match up with the Hartford Wolf Pack.

*Cover Pic & Inserts Courtesy of SenShot’s Photographer Alicia Strauch