Binghamton Senators Earn Third Straight Win Over Hershey Bears
Matt Puempel, Tobias Lindberg and Cole Schneider lead the way in the Senators 5-3 win over Hershey
Holy shit don't look now but the Binghamton Senators have won three in a row!
With Max McCormick on re-call with Ottawa, the Senators (9-17-2-0) marched down to Hershey (16-9-1-5) and walked away with two points as Matt Puempel scored a pair and Tobias Lindberg and Cole Schneider each added two assists to pace the offense while goaltender Chris Driedger came up with 28 saves giving the Sens there longest win streak of the season (and only).
Quite possibly Hershey was emotionally spent after Saturday night's shutout win over their rivals across the state the WBScranton Penguins. Perhaps the players are buying into the system being that transition type of team. The power play has certainly improved going four for eight over the weekend. Whatever the reasons are, the team is winning and that cures all ails that this club has certainly endured.
Lindberg was impressive setting up Nick Paul alone in front for his second of the season on a odd man rush and later with some hustle creating a two on zero before dishing off to Buddy Robinson for the tap in for the Senators third tally in the second period. Interesting to note, since Lindberg returned from his injury the team hasn't lost.
Puempel has caught fire over the weekend (2g 3a) and looks like his old self once again having that quick release he seemed to have lost somewhere this season. After taking a slap pass from Cole Schneider near the circle he one timed it by Bears goaltender Mark Dekanich on the power play. His second of the night was the game winner giving the team a 4-2 lead as he took a drop pass from Kyle Flanagan and his hard wrister was past Dekanich before he knew it.
Patrick Mullen with his traditional turnover once again passing blindly from the corner to Hershey forward Paul Carey as he beats Driedger stick side squeezing the puck inside the near post. Chris Brown and Travis Boyd the other goal scorers for the Bears as the Sens were outshot 31-23.
Colin Greening added an empty netter with a minute left in the third as the club gets some rest on Monday before suiting up for a game with the Phantoms on Tuesday. Let's see how far we can ride the wave this week coming up with three games on tap.
TONIGHT'S LINE-UP
Dzingel-O'Dell-Robinson
Lindberg-Paul-Schneider
Puempel-Flanagan-Greening
Hobbs-Ewanyk-Stortini
Lepine-Kostka
Carlisle-Mullen
Claesson-Rutkowski
WHO'S OUT
Michael Sdao, out. Ben Harpur, Nick Tuzzolino, injured. Ryan Penny healthy. Mark Fraser 2nd of 2 game suspension.
Matt O'Connor back up
POST GAME NOTES
- Surely this is not the same team it was a week or so ago, right? If Matt O'Connor continues to get on track turning losses into wins and Driedger returns to form like he was when the season began, this could be something in the makings. Power play has some structure to it and will also be a key factor.
- Liking what Flanagan brings to the ice as he has very good hockey sense and has become a good playmaker proven tonight with his drop off pass to s streaking Puempel as he skated into the offensive zone for a goal.
- Travis Ewanyk fought with defenseman Tyler Lewington in the second with Ewanyk popping off Lewington's helmet and sending the rookie down to the ice for the games only fisticuffs.
UPCOMING GAMES
Tuesday night with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and then the annual New Year's Eve contest on Thursday with the IceCaps.