Binghamton blows 3-0 lead, loses 5-4 in OT to Manchester
After a huge overtime win in game two, Binghamton went into game three looking to use that momentum and take the series lead. They did, with a dominant performance in the first period where they staked out a 3-0 lead and fired 18 shots on Monarchs goaltender Jeff Zatkoff. Things looked good after 20 minutes, but Manchester--after putting Martin Jones in net to start the second period--took control of the game, fighting back through the final two periods to force overtime and then winning just 1:43 into the extra frame.
Binghamton had their best start by far in the playoffs, scoring the first goal of the game for the first time in the series when Andre Benoit scored just three minutes into the game. Roman Wick added a powerplay marker about nine minutes later, and Colin Greening finished off a pretty passing play from Zack Smith to score his first professional playoff point (a goal) and give Bingo their 3-0 lead. Barry Brust made 11 saves in the first, but the story of the period was the apparent awakening of the B-Sens offence. That didn't last.
Manchester came into the second with rookie Jones in the crease, and their skaters came out firing on all cylinders. Forward Bud Holloway scored twice in the second to cut Binghamton's lead to one, one goal deflecting off the stick of a Binghamton defensemen, and the other a breakaway change that got past Brust on the blocker side. Manchester was able to keep Binghamton to only eight shots in the period, but Binghamton still had a 26-20 lead in shots.
The third period was an up-and-down battle. Teams traded powerplay goals, Bobby Butler restoring Binghamton's two-goal lead until defensemen Patrick Muzzin cut it back down to one. Then just after the midway point of the third, Manchester forward Dwight King tied the game. With no more offence in the third, the game went to overtime.
The game was over early in overtime, but unlike Game Two, Binghamton was on the losing side of the decision. Bud Holloway was this game's overtime hero, capping off his hat trick to give Manchester the 5-4 win over Binghamton
BSens Killer: Bud Holloway
Led the way for Manchester's comeback, scoring their first two goals and, of course, the overtime winner. He also had an assist, giving him five points (3G, 2A) in the three games so far.
BSens Killer: Martin Jones
Whether it was just a coincidence or his effect, the Monarchs played very differently in front of Jones. But he did his part, too, stopping 14 of 15 shots he faced to set Manchester up for their comeback.
BSens Hero: Powerplay
Binghamton's powerplay went two-for-five night and took advantage of the extra man for the first time in the series. It took a few games, but the B-Sens showed why they had the top powerplay in the AHL in Game Three. If they keep producing PP goals at this rate, they'll do themselves a lot of favors as they look to tie the series again in Game Four.
BSens Hero: Zack Smith
Z. Smith had his first points of the playoff so far, putting up three assists in the game while centering an offensive line with Bobby Butler and Colin Greening. If he can keep it up, that scoring depth (complementing the team's scoring leaders, Patrick Coloumbe, Ryan Potulny, and Ryan Keller) will be instrumental in the B-Sens success.
Game highlights:
