Francis Perron’s Two Goals Leads BSens To 2nd Win In A Row

12 goals in the last two nights as the once offensively challenged Binghamton Senators roared back with four unanswered goals in the second period to erase a one goal deficit on their way to a 6-3 victory over the visiting Hartford Wolf Pack on a snowy Saturday night.

Rookie forward Francis Perron broke a nine game pointless streak with a pair of goals and Kyle Flanagan added three assists along with Jack Rodewald’s two goals and a helper to lead the attack. Goalie Chris Driedger was good enough to secure his third win in six games with his 24 save effort as the Senators improved to a 5-8-0-1 record for the season.

Sens defenseman Fredrik Claesson, fresh off his latest stint in Ottawa, took a shot from the point that deflected off of Zack Stortini’s stick into the back of the net that fooled Hartford rookie netminder Brandon Halverson 5:46 in the opening period. But the Wolf Pack would tie it on a power play marker as Marek Hrivik scored his seventh on a slapper near the top of the circle that sailed past Driedger down low.

Hartford then scored the go-ahead goal, this time from defenseman Mat Bodie as he let loose from up top with a rising slapshot that Driedger totally missed.

Then the Senators would start their comeback in the middle frame that began with Chris Carlisle’s first goal of the season just over two minutes in, as his slapper from inside the blueline tickled the twine with Hartford’s Michael Paliotta in the way of Halverson’s vision in front. That brought some energy that was missed in the opening 20 minutes that carried with it some much needed momentum.

A pair of goals followed by Perron 2:27 apart with both snipes nearly identical from the same area. Perron’s first was a wrist shot that sailed through upper far corner by Halverson from a backhand feed by Flanagan. The second was just the same as Perron skated around to the dot from behind the net and his wrist shot went in short side of the cage to give Binghamton a 4-2 lead.

Rodewald then scored his second since his call-up off a rebound in front from a one-timer by Captain Mike Blunden near the dot. Forward Phil Varone was credited with an assist with his cross ice pass from along the wall.

In the final period old nemesis ex-Amerk Tanner Glass recorded his fifth goal of the season as the puck glanced off his skate in the crease and into the net off a shot by forward Nicklas Jensen from within the circle that made it a 5-3 game.

Some nervous fans were put to ease when Casey Bailey added an empty-netter with 48 seconds remaining as the celebration ensued once again followed by another stick salute near center ice.

POST GAME NOTES

• Perron’s back to back snipes were just awesome. The kid has a legit wrister that is extremely quick, Mike Hoffman like. When he creates room, look out, he’s dangerous around the net.
• Hartford starter Halverson was pulled after he let in that fifth goal on 18 shots late in the second period. Second night in a row that Binghamton forced a change in goaltenders for the opposition.
• Teams combined for 8 penalty minutes as their is little of a rivalry between the two clubs.
• Driedger had no chance on 2 slappers that were quick and hard. Something he needs to work on before he gets to the next level, and that is his glove.
• It’s good to see some smiles from the players. It’s been a rough start with the constant losing and no offense to celebrate. Both tonight and last night, it just felt so good to see some success this team has starved for. As they say, winning cures all ills, and man are the boys looking good right now.
• Bailey-Varone-Blunden, Paul-Rupert-Robinson, Perron-Flanagan-Rodewald, Krushelnyski-x-Sortini. Sieloff/Claesson, Englund/Harpur, Lepine/Kostka Carlisle. Chad Nehring (inj) and Chris Rumble (healthy) scratched.
• Players boarded the bus right after for the long ride to the New England area as they have a 5:00 game schedule with Bridgeport on Sunday.
• 3 stars; Rodewald (1g, 2a), Flanagan (3a) and Perron (2g)./

HIGHLIGHTS

UPCOMING GAMES

The 3 in 3 weekend concludes on Sunday in Bridgeport as the Sens take on the Sound Tigers.