Albany Devils Slip By Binghamton Senators In OT
Jim O'Brien's three assists lead Devils 3-2 over the Senators
It's been that type of season as no lead is safe when it comes to the Binghamton Senators, as the Albany Devils tied the game with 6.8 seconds left in the third period and scored 12 seconds into the overtime to send the Senators to defeat by a score of 3-2 at The Floyd. Binghamton caught a napping Devils club in scoring back-to-back goals in the third to take the lead, but gave it right back to the defensive-minded Devils.
After some lackluster play for most of the first period, Albany struck first as defenseman Reece Scarlett's slapper from the point barreled off of Phil Varone in the slot and past starter Chris Driedger for a 1-0 lead. Much of the period was choppy, with no flow as the Senators were held to one shot three quarters of a way through.
Much of the same happened in the middle period as Senators couldn't sustain any offensive pressure while the Devils played sound defensively.
Binghamton finally found their legs in the third and caught the Devils napping as they scored two goals in a span of 41 seconds to take the lead. With a five on three situation in favor of the Sens, Jason Akeson took several slappers within the slot and finally broke through, getting one by Devils rookie netminder Ken Appleby, who appeared in only his sixth pro contest.
That was followed up by forward Michael Keranen, as he notched his second in a Sens uniform and tenth of the season, after he took a pass from the side boards from Ryan Rupert and sniped the puck up high, far corner to give his team a 2-1 lead.
However, with time running down, Senators found themselves on all to familiar grounds while leading by one late in the game.
After Appleby was pulled with 1:28 remaining, Sens fought hard and kept the puck out of their end and almost sealed a win, but the puck sailed wide of an empty net from an attempt by Max McCormick near mid ice.
After Albany called a timeout during the next break with 17.4 seconds left, they had possession deep in the offensive zone. Former BSens Jim O'Brien's pass from the sideboards caught Nick Lappin's stick in front, that redirected the puck to forward Matt Lorito all alone by the side of the cage. Lorito then settled the bouncing puck, but fanned on his shot however he got enough of it to fool Driedger's timing, and in it went off of his leg pad with 6.8 seconds remaining. Disbelief is a word that came to mind as that moment.
But overtime didn't take long as Albany scored 12 seconds in as forward Brian O’Neill worked the puck loose from Chris Carlisle near the corner, and fed JOB in front. Driedger got a piece of it before O’Neill alertly swooped from behind the net and sent it into the open net for the game winner.
Tough loss, as the team finally came alive in the final 20 minutes, but the road trip from Newfoundland late Wednesday into Thursday might have taken a toll early on in tonight's effort.
TONIGHT'S LINE-UP
Bailey-Varone-Akeson
McCormick-Rupert-Robinson
Keranen-Leveille-Flanagan
Hobbs-Ewanyk-Stortini
Claesson-Carlisle
Lepine-Leduc
Tuzzolino-Harpur
Chris Driedger
Matt O'Connor
WHO'S OUT
Dave Dziurzynski, Mark Fraser injured.
POST GAME NOTES
- Daultan Leveille was recently called up from Evansville and made his season debut. Defenseman Nick Tuzzolino was also needed as he was pulled while be loaned to nearby Elmira.Matt O'Connor wasn't seen on the stool while serving as back-up, as he was in the locker room with some illness, however he took warm-ups and was ready to go if needed.
- Travis Ewanyk wasn't happy with Graham Black for whatever reasons and dropped him with one punch in the first period.
- Driedger came in winning his last three out of four and played an average game in front of an average defense. Rookie Ben Harpur was inserted in crucial times late in the game, as he's been given some playing experience leading up to next season with this one gone to the wayside.
- JOB finished the night with three assists and game high five shots but was left off the three Stars of the Game selections, with O’Neill (GWG) and Lorto (1g) chosen instead. Really?
BOX SCORE
UPCOMING GAMES
An off day on Saturday before paying a visit to Rochester on Sunday in the first game between the two clubs since the trade.
*Cover Pic & Insert Courtesy of @AliciaS20