Tobias Lindberg Nets Winner In OT

That was not suppose to have happen, but it did, yet in comeback fashion of all things.

Two teams on opposite ends in the division battle it out in a wild one that took overtime to decide the outcome, as Binghamton Senators' rookie Tobias Lindberg scored the game winner. David Dziurzynski had a three point night, and Ryan Dzingel added two in perhaps his finest effort of the season, as the Senators upset the league-leading Toronto Marlies 6-5 in overtime.

Goaltender Chris Driedger was again in net and came up with 32 saves, as Binghamton outplayed Toronto with another solid effort for the second night in a row, as on Friday they won in Rochester.

The two clubs traded goals in the opening 20 minutes as Senators defenseman Mark Fraser got caught pinching and Marlies forward Connor Brown took off with the puck creating an odd man rush and fed it to Josh Leivo in front, who dropped to one knee and unleashed a one-timer past Driedger. Just over a minute later, Colin Greening dished to Dziurzynski in front and he simply tapped it by Toronto netminder Garret Sparks, who finished the contest with 23 saves.

Max McCormick and Ryan Dzingel began the second period with two breakaways that were both denied, but Toronto made sure theirs counted with Leivo scoring his second of the game, as he ended with a four point night. His wrist shot beat Driedger's glove giving the Marlies a 2-1 lead. Toronto made it 3-1 with forward Mark Arcobello picking Driedger's pocket, up high short side that was just a really sweet goal. There wasn't much room but Arcobello nailed it.

Then the comeback began, as Binghamton's special teams come through three times with Dzingel (12th), Eric O'Dell (17th) and Cole Schneider (15th) the goal scorers. Dzingel with a burst of speed into the offensive zone, slid the puck short side past Sparks that fooled the goaltender on the power play. Then Dzingel's short pass from the corner found O'Dell in front, as his wrister got through to the back of the cage for another PP tally. Then an uncanny, two on nothing shorthanded breakaway with Dizzy and Schneids, as Cole buried the biscuit giving the Sens their first lead of the evening, 4-3.

Marlies showed why they are the best team in the AHL, as they tie it up 1:21 after with Rinat Valiev played a little pitch and catch with rookie Zach Hyman in front and recorded his 10th of the season on the PK. But the Senators showed their resiliency and regain the lead, with Colin Greening picking up the greasy goal in the crease after Dziurzynski cut through the goalmouth.

With time running down and Binghamton with some terrific forechecking all night long, back crept in the Marlies as Connor Brown's tough angle push from the goal line seeps by Driedger's short side sending the game into overtime.

On to three-on-three action with Toronto earning several opportunities to end it, but a little luck went the Senators way. Then Lindberg broke loose from center ice and almost lost control of the puck but regained possession, just in time off the backhand through Sparks' five hole with 1:38 left sending a joyous celebration near the corner boards. That is his fifth of the season, and more importantly, his best.

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

Lepine-Kostka
Fraser-Carlisle
Sdao-Claesson
Allen

Chris Driedger
Matt O'Connor

WHO'S OUT

Robinson, ill. Puempel, injured. Ewanyk, Tuzzolino, healthy.

POST GAME NOTES

- How this happened was the result of some good effort and 6o minutes of action that carried over from Friday. Did I mention the word that has been missing all season long? Consistency. And that is the way it was over the last 24 hours with the team picking up four points on the road before the ASG break.

- With Schneider's shorty in the third, that gave the team 10 on the season which is best in the league.

- Dzingel has come on strong as of late and has teamed up with O'Dell being a solid pair on the first line. Speaking of O'Dell, I don't know where this team would be without him. He's so valuable with a veteran presence on the ice.

- Good to see Lindberg rewarded with the game winner as that gives him 5 on the season. Needs to be more physical as he gets bumped around and in taking his lumps, has missed quite a few games, as I recall the team is 1-14 without him in the line-up.

- If you want a good chance in scoring on Driedger, aim for his glove side, as that second Toronto goal was just that. Can't really fault him in this one though, as the defense was solid and he came up with some decent saves with a little help from the post on a number of occasions. Hey it's the Toronto Marlies for crying out loud. Shit happens, but the team came through in the end.

- Marlies had won 12 out of their last 13 coming in. And the Sens did it in their barn. It'll be a fun week reveling in with a couple of wins instead of a few losses that we so often do.

BOX SCORE

UPCOMING GAMES

With the All-Star break ready to go full swing beginning on Sunday, the Sens are off until next weekend where they play three-in-three starting with the Hershey Bears on Friday.