HERSHEY, PA. – The Binghamton Senators fell 7-2 to the Hershey Bears in their first visit to the Giant Center of the 2016-17 season.
Binghamton took the lead in the opening period immediately after killing Hershey’s first power play of the night. After Phil Varone’s penalty expired, Michael Kosta took the puck inside his own right wing circle and sent a long pass to Varone at the opposing blue line. Varone went in all alone and fired the puck off the right post and in for a 1-0 lead 7:12 into the game. The goal was Varone’s second in as many games with assists from Kostka and Buddy Robinson.
Recent B-Sens call up, Scott Greenham, kept Hershey off the board in the first period with a remarkable save. Greenham denied the original chance with his right leg pad and stuck his stick shaft out to rob Hubert Labrie of a wide-open net. The B-Sens went into the first intermission up 1-0 being even in shots with the Bears at nine apiece.
Hershey came out into the middle frame ready to play scoring four goals over the span of 13:27. Madison Bowey struck first after sending a wrist shot to the upper corner of the goal off a feed from Jakub Vrana. Christian Thomas doubled the lead after he put home his first of the season from the right faceoff circle over the blocker side of Greenham. Riley Barber pushed the score to 3-1 with just over eight minutes to go after sending a low shot in between Greenham’s legs with Aaron Ness and Nathan Walker registering the assists. Vrana put himself on the board again scoring his third of the season after a deflected puck made its way into the net.
Binghamton cut the lead to two goals after Casey Bailey converted on a late power play scoring his third goal of the season with 20.9 seconds to go in the second period. Kyle Flanagan sent a centering pass from the left faceoff circle to Bailey who was in between the hash marks and rocketed a shot pass Joe Cannata.
Hershey solidified the game in the final period scoring three goals. Chris Bourque scored first just over eight minutes into the frame followed by Thomas putting home his second of the night and finally Vrana making it a two-goal night putting the final score to 7-2.
The B-Sens return to action on the road Friday night to face the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at 7:05 p.m. The following night, Binghamton returns home to face the Rochester Americans at 7:05 p.m. Fans can tune in on U.S. Country 96.9 FM, 680 AM, iHeartRadio’s website and mobile app, and AHL Live.
