BDevils Dealt Tough Loss From BSens

Belleville forward Ethan Werek scored the only goal in the Shoot Out as the Senators defeated the Binghamton Devils 3-2 on Friday at Floyd L. Maines Veterans Memorial Arena. The BDevils owned the third period and came close to winning it in the Over Time session on several occasions, but were stonewalled by Senators’ netminder Danny Taylor, as he ended up with 36 saves for his seventh win in 20 games.

Binghamton had some ‘reinforcements’ of sorts with the addition of Jimmy Hayes and Steven Santini that were both sent down by New Jersey earlier in the day, along with a surprise start from Eddie Lack in his first game back from injury. However, it was much the same in this season of disparage for the Devils with yet another loss on home ice.

Photo provided by Alicia Strauch

Santini would put the BDevils in front in the opening twenty minutes with a shot from the point that found the back of the cage through traffic as Taylor never had a reaction. The goal was initially credited to Tim Kennedy with his apparent redirect, but was later changed.

The Senators tied it up 97 seconds later when defenseman Ben Harpur’s wrist shot was re-directed by Nick Paul in the shooting lane past Lack for his fourth of the season on the powerplay, as Lack lost his temper with a slash call on Jim O’Brien near the crease.

Play would continue to tilt in favor of the BDevils into the second period, as they regained the lead when defenseman Jacob MacDonald got a gift from the hockey Gods being in the right place at the right time. The team’s points leader found himself all alone in front before he had a simple shot on a loose puck off the rebound with Taylor sprawled out on his stomach for quite possibly his easiest goal of his career, notwithstanding an empty netter of course.

Photo provided by Alicia Strauch

But the BDevils lead was gone once again in the first three minutes of the third period when BSens’ defenseman Macoy Erkamps scored his first goal of the season from the blueline, as the puck looked to be deflected in front of Lack, as he had trouble finding it with his glove.

Binghamton had the edge late in the third, but Taylor responded to keep the game tied at two apiece, as the two clubs headed into overtime with a man advantage given to Belleville while Tim Kennedy sat in the box after a late hit by the team’s benches.

Devils controlled the action in the five minute session with several scoring opportunities, but somehow Taylor found a way to come up big that included a toe save on MacDonald on a wrap-around attempt, along with a breakaway from Kennedy, as Santini sprung him loose with a perfect pass from the opposite blueline when he exited the penalty box.

After no one scored in the first four attempts, Werek was the lone goal scorer in the SO with a deke and a harmless flip of the puck from near the goal line that was visibly upsetting to Lack with his body language, as the BSens defeated the BDevils in a heartbreaking loss.

Line-Ups

Forwards; Kearns-Kennedy-Lappin, Pietila-Rooney-Hayes, Thomson-Cangelosi-Bastian, Baddock-Mandat-Speers. Defensemen; Loov-Santini, MacDonald-Dyblenko, Kapla-Walman. In Goal; Eddie Lack. Back up; Mackenzie Blackwood. Scratches; Brandon Gignac (inj.), Michael Latta (inj.), Kevin Morris, Brian Strait, Josh Jacobs and Ryan Penny. Kearns, Loov and Rooney with the A’s.

Random Post Game Notes

• John Quenneville called up before tonight’s game and defenseman Steven Stantini (ice time) and forward Jimmy Hayes (conditioning stint) were sent down from New Jersey. Defenseman Colton White was sent to the Adirondack Thunder to make room for Santin and newcomer Jake Walman, who is on loan to Binghamton by the St. Louis Blues it was announced earlier this past week.
• Binghamton had every opportunity to win this game tonight as the night wore on, but were denied by the crafty play from Taylor with several point blank saves that mattered the most in the OT. Devils didn’t really challenge him much in the Shoot Out as Nick Lappin, Hayes, MacDonald and Rooney were the shooters.
• A Senators’ goal was waved off in the second period that was ruled goaltender interference, which is not under the rules of a review. However, a brief discussion did take place with the four officials near the time-keeper but the call stood.
• Kennedy was noticeable for the first time in a while with his puck handling, as he tried to be the hero with his breakaway in the OT, but his frustrations got the best of him after the whistle was blown in the OT as he was pestered by JOB and sent him down to the ice.
• Kearns with two points puts him one behind MacDonald for the team lead (33 pts), as he has quietly continued to have a career season offensively.
• Walman has a cannon of a shot as displayed on a one-timer from the point in the second period, as the rookie looked smooth handling the puck in his first game for the BDevils while being paired up with MacDonald on the PP.

Three Stars

#1.) Ethan Werek (1g SO), #2.) Macoy Erkamps (1g), #3.) Bracken Kearns (2a)

Video Highlights

N/A

Upcoming Games

Binghamton Devils play their second of a three game home stand on Saturday vs the Rochester Americans.