BRIDGEPORT, CT. – Nick Paul and Ryan Rupert each scored while Matt O’Connor made 31 saves in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Sunday evening inside Webster Bank Arena
Bridgeport took a 1-0 lead just 3:54 into the game on the power play. The Sound Tigers set up in their offensive zone and Michael Dal Colle fired a shot from the top of the circles that was partially blocked. The deflected puck went right to Tanner Fritz standing to the right of the crease and he lifted it over the right leg pad of Binghamton’s O’Connor for the 1-0 lead. Assists were credited to Dal Colle and Josh Ho-Sang. Binghamton trailed by one goal after one period and the Sound Tigers held a 13-3 shot advantage.
Binghamton evened the score on a power play of their own in the second period. The puck moved up the left wing wall to Chris Carlisle at the point. Carlisle played the puck to Paul at the top of the right circle and the forward sent a wrist shot through traffic by the blocker of Sound Tigers goaltender Eamon McAdam for his first of the year. Carlisle and Casey Bailey picked up the helpers at 5:43 of the middle frame.
A turnover in the neutral zone provided a spark for the Sound Tigers to take a 2-1 lead late in the same period. Fritz stole the puck and tapped it to Dal Colle who skated to the top of the left circle and let a hard shot go through the screen of the defender and over the glove of O’Connor. The goal was Del Colle’s seventh of the year with the only assist going to Fritz at 15:42. Binghamton went into the second intermission trailing 2-1 while being outshot 28-13.
Rupert tied the game for the B-Sens just 39 seconds into the third period. Paul took the puck from below the goal line and played it with one hand on his stick from the bottom of the right wing circle to Rupert who let go a quick snap shot that beat McAdam. The goal was Rupert’s second of the season with assists from Buddy Robinson and Paul to eventually force overtime.
Bridgeport took the extra point just 46 seconds into the extra time. Ho-Sang moved into the offensive zone down the left side and sent a cross-ice pass to an awaiting Kane Lafranchise who snapped a shot high over O’Connor for the win. Binghamton took five of six points on the weekend as O’Connor stopped 31 of 34 shots on the night.
The Senators have a quick turnaround and host the Lehigh Valley Phantoms the night before Thanksgiving, Wednesday, November 23 at 7:05 p.m. The B-Sens are hosting a Pre-Thanksgiving Food Drive! 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.
