SPRINGFIELD, MA – Max McCormick scored late in regulation and Chris Driedger made 21 saves as the Binghamton Senators defeated the Springfield Thunderbirds, 2-1, at MassMutual Center on Sunday night.
Michael Blunden put the B-Sens up 1-0 lead 8:20 into the first period. Patrick Sieloff sent a pass across the blue line to the right point for an awaiting Michael Kostka. Kostka let a shot go that went off the end glass and came out to the left of goaltender Mike McKenna. Blunden was waiting and batted the puck out of the air and into the net for his third of the season. Binghamton went into the first intermission with one-goal lead and 10-9 shot advantage.
Another crazy bounce helped tie the game as the Thunderbirds got on the board just over midway through the second period. Ian McCoshen took the puck at the left point and sent a shot purposely off the end boards to the right of the goaltender Driedger. The puck sailed hard off the boards and bounced off Driedger and in to even the score 1-1 with the only assist going to Dryden Hunt.
Penalties were handed out at 14:01 of the second period after a hit by Springfield’s Sena Acolatse on Kyle Flanagan. After the whistle, Binghamton’s Ben Harpur went after Acolatse and dropped the gloves and both were handed five-minute major penalties. Acolatse was tacked with an extra two-minute minor for charging while Harpur picked up two minutes for instigating and an automatic ten-minute misconduct. After two periods, the B-Sens held the shot lead 22-19 in the tie game.
The B-Sens took their second and final lead of the game with 4:04 remaining in the third period. Phil Varone won an offensive zone faceoff back to Max McCormick who was waiting at the top of the circle behind Varone. McCormick let a low shot go through traffic that beat McKenna between the legs for his second goal of the year. Varone’s assist was his second of the season.
Springfield pulled its goaltender but the Senators held on for the 2-1 win. Driedger stopped 21 of 22 shots for his second win of the year.
The B-Sens return home for Military Appreciation Weekend next Friday and Saturday at 7:05 p.m. The Providence Bruins visit on Friday night while the Springfield Thunderbirds travel to Binghamton on Saturday. After the game on Saturday, fans can enjoy a postgame skate along with a specialty Military Appreciation Weekend jersey auction Fans can tune in on U.S. Country 96.9 FM, 680 AM, iHeartRadio’s website and mobile app, and AHL Live.
