BDevils Up 3-0 In The 3rd, Only To Lose To BSens 4-3

There is something that you can almost guarantee in hockey, and that is no lead is safe. Not even a three goal lead. And especially when it comes down to the BDevils lately.

The Binghamton Devils (8-13-3-1) were in front 3-0 a quarter of the way into the third period before the eventual meltdown would come forth, this time at the hands of the Belleville Senators (11-12 0-3) as they went on for a 4-3 shootout win an emotionally charged atmosphere in front of a small gathering at Yardmen Arena on Wednesday.

Another lead, another collapse as Belleville rallied with three unanswered goals while the Devils couldn’t find a way to protect the lead (or any lead for that matter), regardless on how big it may be on what became quite the physical confrontation amongst the two clubs.

A combined 148 penalty minutes was called between the budding rivals with most of the altercations already taken place in the first two periods. The calm was then restored in the third, but the BDevils found themselves in panic mode once again.

Ryan Kujawinski put the Devils up front with his first goal of the season as he sent one by Sens’ starter Chris Driedger at 14:46 in the first. The Devils increased their lead to two when Blake Speers scored a power play goal with 15.6 seconds left in the middle frame for his third of the season on a mad scramble in front of the crease as BSens’ HC Kurt Kleinendorst adamantly voiced his displeasure on what appeared to be a non-interference call to referee Darcy Burchell.

Then in the third, it appeared the Devils were in full control with goalie Ken Applebly having a solid outing with a shutout bid that was supported by a goal from Kevin Rooney 37 seconds in, that put Binghamton up by a score of 3-0 on a wrap-around attempt backhanded into the net for his fifth of the season. It was an all too good feeling as this was going to be something special for the BDevils. Too good perhaps, as the inevitable then reared its ugly head soon after.

It started some five minutes later when forwards Filip Chlapik and Gabriel Gagne made it a one goal game with the Senators keeping the Devils on their heels with momentum all of the sudden and the kill within sights.

And so it happened, as my least favorite Senator managed to make it a tie game in his first game back since his demotion from Ottawa on Wednesday. Defenseman Ben Harpur, of all people, sent a shot from the blueline past Applebly with 2:10 left in the third and overtime we went with three unanswered tallies by Belleville.

In the extra five minute session there was a bunch of the typical three-on-three action but Driedger and Appleby insisted it would come down to a shootout. And that is where the difference would be, as Colin White was the only shooter that was successful to put the biscuit in the oven in giving the Senators the win.

Shots ended up at 35 apiece as the BSens are up 2-0 so far in the series with a rematch waiting in the ranks on Saturday in Binghamton. Cannot wait.

Line-Ups

Forwards; Pietila-Kearns-Speers, Quenneville-Kennedy-Bastian, Kujawinski-Rooney-Thomson, Morris-Gignac-Mandat. Defensemen; Strait-Jacobs, Loov-Dyblenko, White-MacDonald. In Goal; Ken Appleby. Back up; Mackenzie Blackwood. Scratches; Austin Cangelosi (inj.), Spencer Abbott, Brandon Baddock, Michael Kapla and Dylan Olsen. Pietila, Kearns and Strait with the A’s.

Post Game Notes

• Forwards Nick Lappin was called up by New Jersey earlier on Wednesday and Brandon Gignac left the game hurt in the second period following a hip check that resulted of him falling awkwardly on his right leg.
• Fights and mixed emotions would be the theme for the first two periods as it should be a doozy on Saturday with the first of four meetings in Binghamton. As far as the overload of PIM’s it was sent on the back burner with Belleville’s comeback. Could’ve been a cool story though with a Devils win.
• Another 40 minutes of hockey, not 60 + another lead, not protected = yet another loss. BDevils are percentage points behind the Springfield Thunderbirds as the worst team in the AHL.
• Blackwood was rested as Appleby finished with 32 saves. Let’s hope he’s in net for the rematch despite the third period collapse.

Three Stars

#1.) Colin White #2.) Filip Chlapik #3.) Ben Harpur

Video Highlights

Upcoming Games

Devils with a tilt in Utica on Friday and the big one in the re-match this Saturday at home against the BSens.