Paul Thompson’s Hat Trick Dooms Hapless Binghamton Senators
By Jeff Ulmer
Albany Devils forward Paul Thompson scored a natural hat trick and inspired his team to a 4-1 win over the hapless Binghamton Senators in Albany, NY. The Devils scored four unanswered goals after being behind in the first period and Binghamton goaltender Peter Mannino took the loss stopping 33 shots, as the team has been officially eliminated from the playoffs.
GAME RECAP
Albany’s Matt Lorito sprints into the zone spliting the Senators defense of Alex Grant and Aaron Johnson, but is denied by Mannino however he draws the game’s first penalty with Grant giving him a hook. Senators kill it and with 5:48 left, forward Brad Mills puts his team out front scoring his fourth of the season shooting past Albany’s goalie Scott Clemmensen from a feed by forward Derek Grant from in back of the cage making it a 1-0 game.
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Then the Thompson show as he scores his first of the night on a power play sweeping the puck in from down low in the left circle beating Mannino high to tie it in the second period. Then with Senators’ Captain Johnson taking a seat for tripping, Thompson scores from nearly the identical spot in the circle after receiving a slot pass again by Lorito, putting the Devils up by a single goal. Shots are 26-17 Albany.
In the third, just when Alex Grant’s high-sticking call expires, Thompson completes the hatty as he nets his 32nd of the season shooting from the goal line after a cross ice pass by Lorito giving Albany a two goal cushion, 3-1. With Mannino pulled for the extra attacker, Devils’ forward Scott Timmins cashes in on an empty netter giving Albany their fourth unanswered goal to win it.
NOTES & OBSERVATIONS
- With the loss, the Senators are now out of any post season action after coming off a division title last year and nearly the previous season before missing it by a single point.
- Binghamton’s power play was 0/4 and wasn’t clicking at all while killing off 4/6, as the 6 penalties was a lot to give with the Devils cashing in at the right opportunities.
- Rookie netminder Chris Driedger didn’t even dress as Scott Greenham backed up Mannino, which is surprising to see. Driedger needs as much experience in this league as he can get, with the anticipation of him being in Binghamton next season.
- No fights in this one as there’s just not enough emotion connecting the two clubs.
- Defenseman Chris Wideman was accessed a game misconduct – abuse to officials call with less than a minute remaining in the third, as that might draw a suspension.
- Shots ended up 37-27 Albany, as things return to normal after Friday night’s shocker.
B-SENS LINES
Forwards – Prince-Camper-Schneider, Dzingel-D Grant-Robinson, Kramer-McCormick-Mills,
Gutptill-Hobbs-Thompson
Defense – Claesson-Rutkowski, Johnson-Grant, Sdao-Wideman
Out – Matt Tassone, Patrick Mullen, Danny New and David Dziurzynski, injured. Guillaume Lépine and Alex Wideman, healthy.
UP NEXT
A Tuesday night match between the Norfolk Admirals and the Senators in a rare midweek meeting.