WB/Scranton Pens Slip By BSens 3-2 In OT
Senators hang with one of the best teams in the league, only to fall short in overtime
I bet Michael Keranen wishes he had that bad clearing attempt or failed stretch pass taken back, as the turnover led to the game winning goal that gave the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins a 3-2 overtime win past the Binghamton Senators at The Floyd. The Sens held their own in a tight battle between the first place Penguins, only to come up short for the second time in three days after losing 5-0 on Wednesday.
Sens goaltender Matt O'Connor took the loss after two straight wins last weekend, as he made 31 saves, but the offense has been quiet as of late and failed to support his otherwise solid effort. Tonight's contest had a slow beginning, but tensions were elevated as the night wore on that featured a pair of fights, and some after whistle skirmishes, along with some heavy hits between the two rivals.
Senators would take the early lead 13:49 in the opening 20 minutes when Keranen cradled a short feed from Jason Akeson near the corner of the net, and lifted the puck up high past Pens netminder Tristan Jarry for a power play tally. However, the Penguins would capitalize on a power play goal of their own with two players in the box that set-up a five on three for the Pens, as Kael Mouillierat's quick pass found Tom Kostopoulos in front for the easy tap in that knotted it up at one apiece.
Binghamton had their own five-on-three in the second period but failed to secure one, but managed to get the puck past Jarry on a man advantage as Casey Bailey recorded his ninth of the season on a one-timer set-up by Akeson that slithered into the mesh that made it 2-1 Sens.
Tempers soon flared up and Dave Dziurzynski was called for roughing with the Sens already down a man with Ben Harpur in the box for high-sticking, that gave the Pens another five-on-three situation. Kostopoulos crashed the net and scored his second of the evening as the puck was fed to him near the crease by forward Carter Rowney that tied it up once again.
In the third, it remained 2-2 but featured two fights. Tom Sestito would drop the gloves with Zack Stortini, as the two heavies would battle it out with both pounding away for a full minute, then Josh Archibald and Ryan Rupert got into it after a melee by the penalty boxes.
The two teams would wound up with a point and had overtime to decide the bonus point, which went the Penguins way. Defenseman Barry Goers was on the receiving end of a bad clearing attempt by Keranen, as he kept the puck in the offensive zone and attacked the net on a give and go with Matthias Plachta. Goers' shot hit the far post, but Keranen and Kael Mouillierat lunged after the rebound in the paint and Mouillierat swatted the loose puck in as he was laid out on his back for the game winner.
TONIGHT'S LINE-UP
Bailey-Varone-Akeson
Keranen-Rupert-Borkowski
McCormick-Dziurzynski-Robinson
Hobbs-Ewanyk-Stortini
Lepine-Leduc
Carlisle-Harpur
Tuzzolino-Tansey
Matt O'Connor
Chris Driedger
WHO'S OUT
Mark Fraser Kyle Flanagan, injured. Daultan Leveille, healthy
POST GAME NOTES
- Dziurzynski had a rough night after missing some time out with a broken finger. Luke Richardson might have sat him for his bad roughing call that led to a Pens goal, as he missed the first half of the third period. Either that or he was feeling the effect of missing so many games and needed a breather.
- Four out of the game's five goals were on the power play as the offense has hit a wall for the Senators. There's only so much Akeson, Phil Varone and Bailey can do with the rest of the line-up mostly made up of grinders.
- Max McCormick and Dizzy with the A's, as that was the third game in a row Max has served in that role.
- Bailey has emerged to be someone to watch as his stock continues to rise after every game. The rookie has filled in nicely after coming over in that big nine player trade with Toronto. He's going to my feature on next Bingo Bites on Wednesday.
- Sens goalie coach Rick Wamsley was seen at practice this morning and is here for the weekend helping out both goaltenders.
BOX SCORE
UPCOMING GAMES
Saturday night will provide another home game as the Utica Comets take on the Senators. Then the team is off until a three in three weekend beginning with a game against the Albany Devils next Friday.
*Cover Pic & Insert Courtesy of @AliciaS20