ALBANY, NY – The Binghamton Senators scored two power-play goals and held on late for a 3-2 win over the Albany Devils at Times Union Center on Wednesday night.
Max McCormick scored his fourth of the year just 5:09 into the game for a B-Sens’ 1-0 lead. Mike Blunden moved through the neutral zone and slid the puck to McCormick who wristed a shot from the left wing circle by the blocker of Mackenzie Blackwood. McCormick’s goal was assisted by Blunden and Chad Nehring.
On the power play Binghamton took a two-goal lead later in the period. With Blunden providing a screen in front of the net, Casey Bailey fired a slap shot that trickled through the pads of Blackwood for the 2-0 lead. The goal was Bailey’s team-leading seventh of the season at 13:18 with the assists going to Nick Paul and Jason Akeson. Binghamton led 2-0 after one period and outshot Albany 10-6.
The only goal of the second period came off the stick of Kyle Flanagan on the power play. After the faceoff was won back to Chris Carlisle, he fed Flanagan at the top of the right circle who ripped a shot just inside the left post and by the glove of Blackwood for his second of the year. The only helper on Flanagan’s goal went to Carlisle at 15:08. Binghamton held a 3-0 lead heading into the final period.
Albany got one back 9:02 into the third courtesy of Rod Pelley’s fifth of the season. Luke Gazdic moved below the goal line and swung the puck to the front of the net that deflected off the glove of Pelley and sailed by Matt O’Connor. Assists were given to Gazdic and Blake Coleman.
The Devils pulled within a goal on the power play with 5:55 left in the game. Joe Blandisi took the puck to the right of the net and played it across the top of the crease to an awaiting Brian Gibbons who lifted the puck over O’Connor’s left pad decreasing Binghamton’s lead to 3-2. The goal was Gibbons’ fourth of the year assisted by Blandisi and John Quenneville.
Binghamton was forced to kill a 6-on-4 power play to finish the game as O’Connor kept the Devils off the board late for the 3-2 win. O’Connor stopped 21 of 23 shots for the win.
The Senators return home for two games this Friday against Utica and Saturday against Bridgeport. Friday, fans can win FREE coffee for a year and Saturday it’s Teddy Bear Toss Night along with a postgame skate! Can’t make it? Fans can tune in on U.S. Country 96.9 FM, 680 AM, iHeartRadio’s website and mobile app, and AHL Live.
