UTICA, N.Y. – Binghamton scored its two first power-play goals of the season in a 2-1 victory over the Utica Comets on Wednesday night at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.
Utica drew first blood late in the opening period on the power play. Alexandre Grenier fired a low shot on net from the right point that Carter Bancks deflected at the hash marks. The puck sailed over the shoulder of Binghamton goaltender Matt O’Connor. The goal came with 1:27 left and was the Senators’ first power-play goal surrendered of the year with a secondary assist handed to Michael Chaput.
Francis Perron evened the score 1-1 just under four minutes into the middle frame with his second goal of the year and the B-Sens’ first power-play marker. Chris Carlisle found Perron on the right side and passed the puck from just inside the blue line. Perron skated into the right wing circle and snapped the shot over the right shoulder of Richard Bachman. Chad Nehring picked up the secondary assist as the B-Sens went to the locker room tied with the Comets.
Curtis Lazar broke the tie with less than two minutes to play in the game on the B-Sens’ second power-play goal of the night. Phil Varone controlled the puck after a flurry of chances during the power play and backhanded a pass to Lazar waiting at the goal line who then found the back of the net. Michael Kostka picked up the secondary assist and the B-Sens held Utica scoreless for the remaining time to get the win.
O’Connor earned first star honors in the win stopping 31 shots faced while Bachman had 24 saves in the losing effort.
The B-Sens continue a busy week at home on Friday, October 28, to battle the Syracuse Crunch at 7:05 p.m. The following night, Binghamton hits the road to take on the Hershey Bears at 7:00 p.m.
