O'Dell, Lindberg Lead Binghamton To 4-1 Win Over Albany

A pair of new guys figure in the scoring as veteran Eric O'Dell had a pair of goals and rookie sensation Tobias Lindberg had two assists as goaltender Chris Driedger came up with 32 saves in the win.

Newly named Captain Zack Stortini provided some physical play as that line with Max McCormick at center and David Dziurzynski on wing were bouncing players around all night. Binghamton opened up the scoring at 9:48 in the first with Colin Greening getting a tip in from a Patrick Mullen slapper from the blue line for a power play tally that got the home crowd into it.

O'Dell scored his first on a two on one break with Lindberg as he slid a saucer pass over the stick of Devils defenseman Reece Scarlett to O'Dell as he pushed the puck up high past netminder Yann Danis. O'Dell and Lindberg would team up again on the Senators' fourth goal off the corner faceoff as Lindberg made a sweet drop pass from behind the cage finding O'Dell near the net as he chips it home by Danis' side of the goalmouth.

There was some bitterness between the two clubs as lots of milling around after many whistle stoppages as they combined for 78 PIM's. Ex-Devil Mark Fraser was involved trying to protect some of the younger guys, particularly Ben Harpur on one occasion, and later ended up dropping the gloves with Corey Tropp as the two would try to throw but not doing any serious damage landing punches.

Another break out would occur as Stortini and Raman Hrabarenka decide to make a date with one another but neither would deliver as the linesmen broke it up much to a chorus of boos from the home crowd.

The lone goal from Albany was off the skate of defenseman Fredrik Claesson as he was in the slot trying to narrow the passing lane but Joseph Blandisi's attempt caught the blade and re-directed by Driedger to tie it up in the first. Dziurzynski would be the other Binghamton scorer netting his first of the season from high in the slot from a Michael Kostka pass from behind the net.

LINES

- Forwards

Dzingel-O'Dell-Lindberg

Puempel-Paul-Schneider

Ewanyk-Hobbs-Greening

Dziurzynski-McCormick-Stortini*

- Defense

Fraser/Mullen*

Lepine/Kostka

Claesson/Harpur

Scott Greenham back-up

- Scratched

Mike Sdao, Buddy Robinson, Alex Guptill all out with injuries; Alex Wideman, Ryan Penny and Nick Tuzzolino healthy

Started*

NOTES

- There was a scratch your head call late in the second period as Albany's Tropp was called for a helmet violation. The rule states that a player must immediately skate to the bench as Tropp continued to play the puck.

- Lindberg looked smooth and poised on the first line with O'Dell as Ryan Dzingel also was contributing on the wing.

- Nick Paul scored his first professional point passing from around the back of the net finding Mullen on the blueline.

- Driedger was solid and played with confidence all night. Really good to see as that will be one of the team's strong points.

- Sens played shorthanded and was effective giving Albany little opportunities and when they did get organized Driedger was steady holding the line.

- Michael Kostka made his premier felt early (and painful) as he caught a rut on the ice and fell awkwardly giving himself a fat lip.

- Besides Storts being named Captain, Fraser and Mullen wore the 'A'.

- Shots ended up 33-32 Albany as that was one of the major problems the team faced last season. We'll keep an eye on this moving forward.

*Cover Pic & Insert Courtesy of Alicia Strauch.