Binghamton Senators Listless In Rematch With Rochester Americans

With the way the club has been playing as of late, there's the inevitable let down game that occurs and that's just what transpired tonight resulting in a 2-1 loss to the Rochester Americans. Binghamton started off great in the first period and had the early lead, but Rochester came on hard in the middle frame and controlled the flow scoring two goals, both on the power play, sending the Senators back on their heels the rest of the night. The two interstate rivals would end up splitting their home and home weekend with each winning in the other's barn.

Sens' goaltender Scott Greenham forced Luke Richardson's hand and earned the start after his shutout performance on Friday in Rochester. Tonight, he was equally up for the task in keeping his team in it after stopping 28 shots, with both goals coming with a man short.

Newly acquired defenseman Conor Allen had made an impression in his home debut, as the fans first witnessed what the prize was after Patrick Mullen was dealt. With the team buzzing in the opening period, Binghamton found themselves on the power play and took the lead. Allen's shot from the blueline found Zack Stortini in front, as the puck hopped over Rochester netminder Nathan Lieuwen into the mesh, who ended up with 22 saves. That's two games for Allen and two assists.

Feeling good and looking to increase the narrow lead, Rochester woke up and potted two goals in the second period ending a one goal in 12 period streak that lasted 156.07. With defenseman Chris Carlisle in the box for hooking, Amerks forward Dan Catenacci grabbed a loose puck tangled up in the skates of teammate Evan Rodrigues in front, and his backhander tied it up at one apiece.

Then with 7:50 left in the second, Rochester scored the go ahead goal as defenseman Jerome Leduc ripped a one-timer past Greenham by the far side, after a set-up pass from fellow D-man Colby Robak. That would sap the energy out of the building as the Amerks took control of the game because the Senators couldn't keep up the rest of the night.

Senators did have several opportunities in the third as Colin Greening took a short pass from Guy Lepine but Lieuwen was there with a kick save. Then there was a beautiful display of skating and stick play by Ryan Dzingel, as he splits the D going between the legs only to be denied by Lieuwen. Binghamton would go on a six on four with Greenham pulled and a penalty to Matt Ellis with 39.2 seconds left, but failed to get a shot off as that's the way it went tonight. Just one of those games.

Dzingel-O'Dell-Robinson
Lindberg-Paul-Schneider
Puempel-Flanagan-Greening
Penny-Dziurzynski-Stortini

Lepine-Kostka
Fraser-Carlisle
Sdao-Allen

Scott Greenham
Chris Driedger

WHO'S OUT

Ben Harpur, Nick Tuzzolino, Matt O'Connor injured. Troy Rutkowski, Travis Ewanyk healthy.

POST GAME NOTES

- To be honest they looked tired. And man so wasn't Mike Sdao. He was spent, lumbering around after being out for so long, as this was his first back-to-back games, in like, forever. Steve Stirling tried some different combinations with the remaining five giving him some extended rest, but it was just utterly painful to watch at times.

- Patrick Kaleta was a scratch so Lepine did not get the revenge he was hoping for after Friday night's tilt. I'm sure it will resurface at some point in the future with five games left between the two clubs.

- Matt O'Connor was seen in street clothes as he's getting close to returning after suffering a knee injury. That means Greenham will have to return to Evansville to make room. Am I the only one that feels bad for the guy? I don't believe so, as he's been stellar filling in. Scotty also pushed prospect Chris Driedger into a back-up role, for both games. Impressive.

- I guess there's not a whole lotta love going on for Travis Ewanyk these days, as he's been riding the pine for some time now. One has to wonder if he was part of the menacing crew that took over the locker room resulting in so many losses earlier in the season because since he's been out, the team has been winning. Just speculating here, nothing to see. Carry on.

- Eric O'Dell was so dialed in on scoring in the third, that he made a soccer kick to the puck only to have Lieuwen make a stick save. Buddy Robinson was there for the rebound but couldn't get the most of his shot off.

BOX SCORE

UPCOMING GAMES

Next weekend, two home games as the club is in the middle of four in five at home. Friday vs Hershey, and Saturday against Syracuse.

**Make sure fans you check out Wednesday's Bingo Bites as I'll post up my thoughts in the 2nd Quarter Grades report.**

*Cover Pic & Insert Courtesy of Alicia Strauch