BINGHAMTON, NY – The Albany Devils five-game winning streak against the Binghamton Senators came to an end with a 2-1 setback Saturday at Floyd L. Maines Veterans Memorial Arena. After dropping the first game of the season at Binghamton, Albany had won the next five meetings by a combined score of 16-4. These in-state rivals will meeting once more next Wednesday at Times Union Center.
Having already secured a playoff spot and home ice in the first round of the Calder Cup Playoffs, the Devils rested several of their regulars. Marc-Andre Gragnani, Vojtech Mozik, Brian O’Neill, Rod Pelley, Blake Pietila, Reece Scarlett and Mike Sislo were all out of the lineup.
Despite the loss, Albany still owns the second-best record in the Eastern Conference at 43-19-8-2. Binghamton improved to 29-37-6-1.
Ben Thomson scored the Devils’ tally, which came at 12:16 of the second period to tie the game, 1-1. After receiving a pass from Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond, Graham Black slipped a puck under Binghamton netminder Matt O’Connor’s pad. The puck rested on the right goal post and Thomson jammed it in for his sixth tally of the season.
The Senators had established a 1-0 led thanks to Max McCormick’s power-play goal at 2:04 of the second. The game-winner came off Casey Bailey’s stick with the man advantage at 19:04 of the same period.
Yann Danis remains one win shy of tying Jeff Frazee’s franchise record for wins in a season. Danis, who made 18 saves, is 27-12-5.
At the other end, O’Connor finished with 35 stops.
• The Essentials
Shots: Albany, Binghamton
Power-Play: Albany, Binghamton
Three Stars:
• Next Up
The Devils return to Times Union Center Sunday for a 3 pm contest against the first-place Toronto Marlies. The game is part of “Military Appreciation” and all active and retired service members will receive free admission to the game by showing proper identification at the Times Union Center Box Office.
