Bridgeport Stings Binghamton Senators Once Again

The Binghamton Senators look to be eying the golf links that’s right behind the corner as they lose their third straight, this time to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers for the second time in less than a week by a 4-1 margin. Sound Tigers rookie goaltender C.J. Motte made his pro debut a success getting the win stopping 29 shots as the Senators offense

has been in a funk as of late.

GAME RECAP

Bridgeport’s forward Mike Halmo opened up the scoring with his eighth of the season after taking a bad outlet pass from defenseman Fredrik Claesson up high in the slot and sent a sweet wrister by Binghamton’s goalie Peter Mannino blocker side for a 1-0 lead. After a harsh hit by Sound Tigers’ tough guy Brett Gallant on another tough guy in Sens’ defenseman Mike Sdao right by the Senators bench, the two would go on to the fight of the season a few shifts later.

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With Sdao wanting a piece of Gallant and the Tigers enforcer accepting, the two drop the gloves along with the lids, and go toe to toe with Gallant getting the early battle lead over Sdao. But just when the fight appears to end, in comes back big Mike landing a few lefts setting himself for a roundhouse one on the button to Gallant knocking him off his feet and down with Sdao falling on top. Crowd pleaser for sure as they go goes nuts as there is few moments to cheer about in this one tonight.

Defenseman Ryan Pulock sends a fast, heavy slap shot past Mannino from the point as he was partially screened by Guillaume Lepine with the Tigers up 2-0 in the second period. That would be all the

scoring in the middle frame as Binghamton has a 22-16 shot advantage.

Into the third period, rookie Max McCormick cashes in on a rebound let loose by Motte scoring his 10th of the season cutting the lead to one. But Bridgeport would take the wind out of the sails as Halmo scores his second of the night peeking out from behind the net and sending a no look shot form the corner the eludes Mannino and somehow ends in the back of the net for a 3-1 lead.

Bridgeport adds another insurance goal that seals the deal when rookie sensation defenseman Griffin Reinhart nets his sixth off the right shoulder of Mannino at 13:51 in the third as the Senators go down in defeat by a score of 4-1.

NOTES & OBSERVATIONS

Senators offense has scored only three goals in their last three games as the Sound Tigers defense had a strong outing for the second time in less than a week, following last Sunday’s 7-1 thumping.
Defensemen Alex Grant and Aaron Johnson were awful, with a ton of turnovers and missed passes, Chris Wideman as well with the after-mention.
Mannino did not have a good outing as he’s been lit up for 11 times in his last two games with little help on some of the ones he let in. Although that third one by Halmo was simply dirty, as he fooled Peter by sneaking the puck by him from the side of his cage.
D-man Danny New doesn’t belong on the offense, but filled in for forward Alex Guptill, as he was a healthy scratch.
Sdao did not return after his first period fight featuring a KO, as he was favoring his left hand going off to the dressing room.
Derek Grant looked great on faceoffs all night long and showed some grit.
Speaking of Derek, a few players from Bridgeport were asking for the game puck to the officials to give to Motte in his first pro career win, and it happened to be sitting by the Senators exit and Grant swooped it up and carried it with him off the ice.

B-SENS LINES

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

Defense – Claesson-Lepine, Johnson-Grant, Lepine/Sdao-Wideman

Out – Matt Tassone, Patrick Mullem and David Dziurzynski, injured. Alex Guptill and Troy Rutkowski, healthy.

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

UP NEXT

Binghamton’s next venture is Wednesday up in Syracuse as the Crunch will be ready to take on their I81 rivals.

Next: Binghamton Senators Fall Flat In Loss To Penguins