Tough Night For Binghamton Senators In OT Loss To Bridgeport

With just under two minutes left in the overtime period, Bridgeport forward Devon Toews skated into the offensive zone from along the side wall and swooped towards the net that eventually led to the game winning goal with a backhand shot that snuck past goaltender Chris Driedger, as the Bridgeport Sound Tigers beat the Binghamton Senators 4-3 in overtime at The Floyd on Saturday night.

It was a tough loss to take, as the Senators and Sound Tigers traded goals back and forth throughout the night but Binghamton earned a point for their fifth out of a possible six in the past three outings.

Binghamton rookie forward Jack Rodewald continued to make a statement that he belongs in the AHL, as he opened up the scoring with his fourth goal on a one-timer that rifled past rookie goaltender Eamon Mcadam, after he received a quick pass from across the slot by another rookie, in defenseman Macoy Erkamps. It would be Erkamps first AHL point as he looks to earn a more permanent spot in Binghamton.

Senators were in control and dominated play until Bridgeport forward Andrew Rowe turned the tide and tied the game at one apiece 3:34 into the second period. Stephen Gionta worked the puck loose and found Rowe from outside the circle as his one-timer beat Driedger down low.

But Patrick Sieloff regained the Senators one goal lead with a nice wrister from up high near the blueline that eluded McAdam’s glove side for his second mark of the season.

But all was not well for Binghamton as here came back the Sound Tigers with Rowe scoring his second of the game, and it took all of a 1:11 into the third period to do it. Rowe pounced on a big rebound given up by Driedger by forward Ross Johnston’s shot from outside the perimeter, as the puck ended up through Driedger’s five hole.

Bridgeport would then take the lead for the first time when Josh Holmstrom gambled with his shot that was sent through traffic, and it paid off as the puck bounced off of defenseman Chris Carlisle in front and changed direction, as Driedger had no chance of recovering.

One final push would come from the Senators with Driedger pulled for the extra attacker, and it ultimately paid off with Nick Paul labeled as the hero, as his hard sniper from the top of the right circle went in with just over a minute left in the third period that sent the game into OT. The shot rang off the far post, as the primary assist went to Casey Bailey with his sweet cross-ice feed from near the corner boards.

In the OT period, the two teams were hampered with a pair of off-set penalties that were called following a scrum to Max McCormick and Ben Holmstrom late in the third that spilled out into the extra five minute frame until a whistle was blown. Then, three-on-three action was on with 2:19 remaining but the Sound Tigers prevailed.

Devon Toews scored the game winner with his in-zone rush from along the side wall as he skated towards the cage and settled with a backhand shot that looked to have fooled Driedger, as he failed to get a stick on the ice in cutting down the angle. One mistake is all it would take, and the game was over with the Sound Tigers secured the bonus point.-

POST GAME NOTES

• This one was tough to take as the team fought back and didn’t give up. Paul with an absolute beauty of a shot, as he set up and aimed through a bunch of legs near the crease.
• Driedger played well, but that GWG he gave up was weak. He’s better than that. And with the lack of him recently playing, that is expected. He still showed signs of coming around in his first game since last Friday in Providence. However, someone has to get their shit together in figuring out the goaltending rotation because right now, it’s just whacked.
• Despite the loss, the Sens have something to build on with securing five points out of six in their last three contests. Another strong outing from a depleted line-up, that has been lately a mish-mashed unit filled with Wichita call-ups that are in for injuries throughout the organization.
• Bridgeport had 9 rookies in their line-up tonight while the Senators suited up 5. Bridgeport goalie McAdam was one of them, and improved to 7-0-0-0 on the season with a 2.22 GAA, 0.922 SV%. On a side note, he simply committed robbery on Rodewald late in the 3rd with a dramatic glove save with time running out. Save of the year in my books.
• Fans have to take note that these injury fill-ins from the ECHL, also effects the fan-base in Wichita, as they are ultimately decimated with the injuries for the parent club in Ottawa in the forefront. Trickle down effect takes place, as all players that are fighting for contracts and their careers on all three levels in the organization.
• Bailey-Paul-Akeson, McCormick-Nehring-Blunden, Perron-Flanagan-Rodewald, Gagne-Loiseau-Stortini. Rumble/Harpur, Lepine/Carlisle, Sieloff/Erkamps. Kostka, Rupert and Krushelnyski all injured and listed as day-to-day. /

HIGHLIGHTS

UPCOMING GAMES

Binghamton will return in action on a rare mid-week contest on Wednesday when they host the St. John’s IceCaps at The Floyd.