Binghamton Devils Upended By Utica Comets 3-2 In OT

Another game, another third period comeback by the opposing team, this time the Utica Comets as they scored the tying goal and the game winner in overtime for a 3-2 victory over the Binghamton Devils on Saturday at The Floyd. This latest loss would be game number 13 in the last 16 for the BDevils and fourth in a row.

Photo provided by Alicia Strauch

Devils goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood had a good outing despite the outcome in his first game back since his recent call-up from Glens Falls in stopping 29 shots, as the overall team competed well enough to win, except they forgot exactly how that works when leading after two periods.

Binghamton would jump to an early lead in the first two minutes when Bracken Kearns re-directed a shot from the point by defenseman Josh Jacobs past Utica netminder Richard Bachman in front to put the Devils up 1-0. The two teams ramped up the physicalness with some scrappy play before the Comets tied it late in the period when defenseman Adam Comrie’s shot deflected off the skate of Jacobs and past Mackenzie for a power play goal at 12:56.

Then in the second, Devils’ forward Tim Kennedy gave Binghamton back the lead with a tip-in near the crease on a pretty play set-up with Michael Latta and Michael Kapla 3:45 into the period. That’s the way it stood after 40 minutes with the Devils out shooting the Comets 22-20.

Photo provided by Alicia Strauch

Then the final twenty minutes which has plagued this team, as no lead is safe it has been proven all season long.

Comrie scored his second of the night when he let loose a bomb from the blueline that Blackwood never saw through traffic for his fifth of the season that tied it at two. A late penalty to Utica would give Binghamton a power play with under two minutes left but Bachman was tough to beat as he made some stellar saves.

In the OT, Devils’ defenseman Brain Strait was accessed an interference call with under a minute remaining that gave the Comets a 4v3 advantage. And sure enough off the faceoff in the Devils’ defensive zone, Comrie fed a short pass to Philip Holm and his slapper beat Mackenzie with Zack MacEwen provided a screen that the Devils’ failed to clear away from the crease.

Everyone saw this coming as a pattern has developed which is toxic when it comes between the difference of winning and losing. Final shots, Devils 33, Comets 32.

Line-Ups

Forwards; Quenneville-Kennedy-Latta, Pietila-Rooney-Lappin, Kearns-Mandat-Thomson, Baddock-Penny-Lane. Defensemen; Strait-Jacobs, White-MacDonald, Kapla-Dyblenko. In Goal; Mackenzie Blackwood. Back up; Ken Appleby. Scratches; Austin Cangelosi (inj.), Brandon Gignac (inj.), Viktor Loov (inj.), Blake Speers (inj.) and Nathan Bastian (inj.), Dylan Olsen, Terrence Wallin, Kevin Morris. Kearns, Strait and Rooney with the A’s.

Random Post Game Notes

• Blackwood looked a lot better but the question remains is who will be the odd man out once Ediie Lack returns from injury and is sent to Adirondack.
• This team is terrible when it comes to 5v3 action. Instead of closing the perimeter around towards the net, they remain wide open trying to find an opening as if it was a 5v4.
• At least the Devils didn’t completely rollover in the third period as they played a good game only to come up short without that killer instinct to close out a win.

Three Stars

#1.) Philip Holm (1g), #2.) Adam Comrie (2g, 1a), #3.) Tim Kennedy (1g)

Video Highlights

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Upcoming Games

Binghamton travels up the I81 corridor North to take on the Crunch in Syracuse on Monday afternoon.