Cory Schneider Leads Binghamton Devils 3-1 Past Belleville Senators

This was the type of night that Binghamton needed as the Devils won 3-1 over the Belleville Senators at CAA Arena on Wednesday to end their three game losing skid. Netminder Cory Schneider made 22 saves in his second rehab start and the offense finally produced to end a string of 136:27 scoreless minutes.

Lots to like in this one as it was a full 60 minute effort from Binghamton (4-4-0-0) right up to the end with players looking out for one another. The defense tightened up and the transition game improved at center ice as with the loss, Belleville (3-4-0-0) fell below .500 on the young season.

Devils’ rookie forward Marian Studenic got his team in front first on a gutsy effort from another rookie in Michael McLeod, as he made the most on a Sens’ defenseman Jordon Murray near the slot. McLeod took the puck and hustled towards the net feeding Studenic who buried it by Sens’ goalie Mike McKenna for his fourth of the season.

However, the Senators would tie it 1:10 into the second when Nick Paul won a face off draw with Blake Speers. The puck was then picked up by Rudolfs Balcers who found Drake Batherson by the side of the cage as his shot beat Schneider, glove side.

Binghamton would regain the lead, and this time for good, as Eric Tangradi’s wrap around attempt went in, far side, for his second of the season while it stood as the eventual game winner. But the work of Brett Seney payed off as he battled hard in front with Julius Bergman and was seen chirping at the Senators’ defenseman during the goal celebration.

Devils made it 3-1 a affair in the third on a power play mark at 4:39, as Nick Lappin scored his team-leading fifth off a rebound shot past McKenna. From there on in, Binghamton made an effort with hard skating, good positional play and intriguing play from Schneider on top of his game in the waning minutes that kept Belleville from further scoring. Shots ended up 23-19 in favor of Belleville.

Line-Up, Game #8

Forwards: Tangradi - Seney - Lappin, Studenic - McLeod - Anderson, Pietila - Sharagnovich - Speers, Baddock - Gignac - Bastian

Defensemen: Strait - Jacobs, Sissons - Ramage, Kapla - White

In Goal: Cory Schneider, Mackenzie Blackwood

Scratches: Cam Johnson, Ryan Schmelzer, Kurtis Gabriel and Tariq Hammond

Post Game Notes

• Strait, Tangradi with the A’s.
• John Quenneville, Eric Gryba, Kevin Rooney and Yegor Yakovlev all on recall for New Jersey as the Devils are set to play on Thursday vs Colorado.
• Turnovers were less evident tonight than the previous three games that mounted up as losses. The team skated hard right to the end, something we didn’t see much of last season.
• The Tangradi-Seney-Lappin line had 5 points but it was the combined effort of Studenic-McLeod-Anderson trio that stood out the most for me.
• I thought Nathan Bastian played strong on the forecheck as Michael Kapla, although had an assist and looks good offensively, continued to turn over the puck too many times on the defensive end of his game.
• Schneider wasn’t tested as often but kept the rebounds down to a minimum and was less rusty then last Saturday in his first rehab effort for Binghamton. Don’t be surprised if he gets the call once again on Friday, as the BDevils are back at it on home ice. If he does, that will end his conditioning assignment with the maximum of three games allowed as I think this will be necessary before he is fully prepared for any NHL action.
• Senators and Devils tied at one piece as Binghamton rebounded from last Wednesday’s 5-2 loss in Belleville with four games remaining on the schedule.

Three Stars

#1. Eric Tangradi (1g,1a), #2. Drake Batherson (1g), #3. Cory Schneider (22 saves)

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Upcoming Games

BDevils amidst another three games in four days agenda as Binghamton will be home for two this weekend beginning on Friday when the Devils take on the high flying Charlotte Checkers.