Albany Devils Slip Past Binghamton Senators

The Binghamton Senators suffered a set-back of sorts as the Albany Devils delivered a 3-2 defeat at The Floyd on Saturday night. Here is a quick list that comes to mind;

• The power play continues to be bad, I mean really bad as they were 0/2 tonight with a single shot on net while the Devils put on a clinic, as they were successful in both instances on the man advantage.
• Some valuable points were left on the table to their North Division foe as the Devils improved to 22-15-1-1 for second place, while the Senators fell to the basement at 15-19-2-1, three points out of a playoff spot. Looking ahead, this is not going to be an easy task by any stretch of the imagination with teams jockeying near the bottom.
• What’s next? The finale of a three-in-three weekend with a Sunday afternoon meeting in Hershey where they have been traditionally bad at Giant Center, as the Bears are fresh off their win over Lehigh Valley on Saturday and the possibility of seldom used goaltender Scott Greenham starting in goal./

For a second straight night Binghamton’s tempo was scrambled with little flow or fluidity in the mix and fell behind by a pair of goals 1:43 apart, as the Devils first cashed in on a power play. It took all of 14 seconds with some crisp tic-tac-toe passes as forward Ben Sexton scored his 12th while unattended in front of the crease as he deposited the puck up high past Driedger for the early Devils’ lead.

Then Albany defenseman Brandon Gormley whiffed on his first attempt down the center lane but was able to gather the puck with Chris Carlisle defending and sent it into the back of the net as goaltender Chris Driedger was fooled and wasn’t able to recoup in time.

Binghamton got their act together with two quick goals in the middle frame to tie it as forward Jason Akeson did a spin around while cradling the puck in front and past Albany netminder Ken Appleby for his third of the season. Just 1:40 after, Max McCormick with a highlight effort, as he skated in from the center ice and sent a snipe from the circle upper far corner of the net by Appleby to tie the game at two apiece.

But Albany would regain the lead as Sexton scored off a one-timer from the slot that beat Driedger after he received a no-look pass from ex-Senator Carter Camper for his second of the night. That would be the Devils second power play goal with McCormick in the box for both. Albany had a 20-6 shot advantage in the second period and finished the contest at 34-23.

That would be the end of the scoring as Binghamton fell short in their attempt to send the game into overtime in the third period and suffered the home ice loss.

POST GAME NOTES

• Senators could learn a thing or two on the way the Devils scored their two power play goals, it was awesome. Meanwhile all the Sens could do is pass it back and forth with very little much going on.
• Devils line-up was a patch work of sorts with injuries and call-ups. But their will power was greater than the Sens with a decent outing on a make shift line-up.
• Senators’ Head Coach Kurt Kleinendorst was livid after the final whistle as an apparent blown icing call sent the faceoff deep into the Albany zone with 4.9 seconds remaining and Driedger pulled for the extra attacker. Bottom line the team was flat in the opening 20 and final 20 minutes.
• Defenseman Ben Harpur was a pylon in the Albany first goal and didn’t cover the man in front that eventually scored a PP goal. Countless turnovers, etc. etc. etc. But play he must as I’m sure Ottawa wants him to get minutes, but he does not belong on the PK unit.
• McCormick, aka Spicy, scored in his second straight and his enthusiastic celebrations afterwards are fun to watch. He was involved in a 1st period fight with Kevin Rooney after he laid down a big hit on Casey Bailey along the boards, only to have missed on a wild southpaw punch that went no where except down to the ice as he lost his balance. I’m going to miss this kid after the season is completed.
• This is not a physical, grinding type of team that has been what seems to be the norm in the past. Talent is thin and depth is missing with several ECHL players that are in the line-up. I’ll still be rooting for them but after tonight’s performance, it’s going to be a rough go at it.
• Three Stars; 1st Sexton, 2nd Gormley, 3rd McCormick.
• Akeson-Varone-Rodewald, McCormick-Paul-Bailey, Perron-Flanagan-Robinson, Krushelnyski-Nehring-Gagne. Englund/Kostka, Sieloff/Harpur, Rumble/Carlisle. Stortini and Lepine were healthy scratches./

HIGHLIGHTS

UPCOMING GAMES

The Senators go to a place that has given them trouble in the past as another Sunday afternoon clash with the Hershey Bears at Giant Center to conclude the three-in-three weekend.