BSens Undisciplined In Loss To Albany
Penalties kill whatever chances the Senators had today as they end up losing 4-1 to the Devils
Given any team a man advantage is inevitable as we all know hockey is a contact sport. To kill it requires anticipation and timing while having your best players out on the ice to accomplish this feat. But to give your opponent 10 opportunities, it's going to put some strain on those penalty killers along with the goaltender.
That's exactly what would happen on a Sunday afternoon in front of a sparse crowd in the Capital District as the Albany Devils scored all four goals on the power play (including a five on three) en-route to a 4-1 win over the Binghamton Senators. A total of 39 minutes was spent in the Senators' box versus 19 for the Devils as the Sens also had their chances but failed going one for six on the PP. Rookie netminder Matt O'Connor was the victim as he faced 38 shots as his record fell to 0-3-0 (3.04 GAA, 0.894 SV%).
#BSENS starting goaltender Matt O'Connor surveys the T-U Center ice where he'll go for his 1st win as a pro today. pic.twitter.com/u5449djmqh
— Grady Whittenburg (@BSensRadio) October 25, 2015 Binghamton actually had the lead heading into the locker room after the opening period as Matt Puempel was in the right place at the right time knocking in the rebound off a Nick Paul shot that hit the crossbar and fell short to the side of the net for the easy tap in.
Albany's Paul Thompson was on the receiving end of a Zack Stortini hit that sent him into the boards and it appeared he injured his shoulder, as he was directed off the ice to end his day. However, Stortini was issued a five minute major for boarding that carries with it an automatic ejection giving Albany a lengthy man advantage where they tied it up on a goal by Matt Lorito.
Devils rolled from there with Corey Tropp, Joseph Blandisi and Reid Boucher the goal scorers leading Albany to victory as Binghamton didn't have enough time or effort to gain any momentum with the revolving door to the sin bin sealing their fate.
LINES
Lindberg-O'Dell-Dzingel
Puempel-Paul-Schneider
Ewanyk-Hobbs-Wideman
Dziurzynski-Greening-Stortini
Mullen-Fraser
Lepine-Kostka
Claesson-Tuzzolino
NOTES
- The odd part of this Binghamton had one of the better (8th) PKs in the league entering the game.
- Stortini's ejection doesn't necessarily mean he's going to receive a game suspension for his next game as the league will rule on this and decide. What was shocking that not one player from the Devils stepped up and challenged Storts. If it was any player from the Sens, you know that certain player would be in a world of trouble. (I don't believe he will get suspended)
- The elephant in the room seems to be again the power play, or lack of it, as the team went 1 for 6 for the afternoon and are just 3 for 24 on the season.
- Shots ended up 38-24 Albany as that has been for the most part under control after six games unlike last season.
- Brandon Burlon of Albany checked prospect Tobias Linderg hard into the boards as Eric O'Dell came at him in retaliation. That's what you want to see when sticking up for your team mates as that hasn't been an issue for the Sens in the last several seasons.
- Paul came close to scoring his first professional goal in the first. The kid looks good so far and should break out soon as his transition continues to be smooth.
- O'Connor was challenged hard today but to pin this one on him isn't happening. Chris Driedger should get the nod on Wednesday in Wilkes/Barre if the rotation continues with the two starting every other one. That would mean O'C will start for the first time at home on Friday against the Utica Comets.