Binghamton Devils Win Behind Jacob MacDonald’s GWG In OT

The BDevils’ third period has been problematic for the most part this season and in tonight's tilt with Rochester, it was no different with the Amerks mounting a comeback down by two just about halfway through that sent the game into overtime for the second straight night in Binghamton. Surely another heartbreaking loss felt like it was on the horizon after the previous night.

On Friday, the Belleville Senators were victorious in a shootout, but Devils’ All-Star defenseman Jacob MacDonald went against the grain with his game winner that gave Binghamton a 4-3 win over the Rochester Americans on Saturday at The Floyd. With the win, the team’s home record is 7-13-3-1.

Photo provided by Alicia Strauch

Binghamton (13-23-6-3) fell behind Rochester (25-11-6-5) at 18:38 in the first period when Amerks’ forward Kevin Porter backhanded a loose puck during a goal mouth scramble past goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood for a 1-0 lead, but the Devils recovered recording the next three unanswered goals.

The first coming off the stick of forward Blake Pietila as he sent a sniper that rang off the post behind Amerks’ goalie Adam Wilcox at the start of the second period. Then near the middle of the period, defenseman Viktor Loov tapped in a rebound by the side of the net that caught Wilcox out of position for a Devils’ power play goal and a 2-1 lead.

At 4:28 into the third, the BDevils saw themselves with a two goal cushion when rookie forward Blake Speers pounced on another loose puck after Nick Lappin drove towards the net with Wilcox down on the ice for his fifth goal of the season. That sparked a wild celebration with the players near the corner boards and the large crowd roared their approval.

However, everyone in the stands knew that no lead is safe with this team and what possibly could happen, especially against a Rochester club that boasts the fifth best record in the league coming in.

And sure enough, it did. Another collapse was in the works.

Defenseman Taylor Fedun’s drop pass along the side boards teed up to a one-timer from fellow D-man Matt Tennyson for his first goal of the season, as Blackwood looked to have lost track of the puck with traffic in front. Then it was Amerks’ forward Sahir Gill’s turn with his pick off a rebound from the slot then deposited by Blackwood with five minutes left in the third, as the inevitable happened once again.

Photo provided by Alicia Strauch

The BDevils with yet another strong performance in OT, just like in Friday’s game with the BSens, except tonight they would prevail in the short time it lasted. It took just 34 seconds for the trio of Tim Kennedy, Pietila and MacDonald to score the game winner. Kennedy did most of the work as he carried the puck around the perimeter before crashing the net on what appeared to be a set play, with both Pietila and MacDonald there for a chance off a rebound near the slot, and that would happen when MacDonald came through for his 14th of the season and team-leading 34th point.

The BDevils take three out of four points on the weekend and more importantly, something that hasn’t happened all that much lately, a good feeling after a rare win on home ice.

Line-Ups

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

Random Post Game Notes

• Eddie Lack sat out for maintenance as Colin Stevens served as back-up. Jimmy Hayes finished his 2 game conditioning stint with 2 assists, 5 shots and a +1. Brian Strait sat out for the second time with a newborn.
• Kevin Rooney left the game during the first period after he awkwardly fell at full speed near the corner boards, injuring what appeared to be his ankle. No word on an update as of this recap.
• Blackwood was given an assist on Pietila’s goal in the second period, as he sent the puck to Hayes near the slot, who in turn sent it up ice off the boards to a waiting Pietila. It was Blackwood’s first point in his pro career while he also played well with his 27 saves to show for.
• St. Louis Blues’ prospect defenseman Jake Walman, who is on loan here in Binghamton, showed some nifty moves with the puck shaking off defenders while getting a shot on net with his hard slapper. I’m really impressed in what the rookie has shown in his short two games here so far.
• Another big crowd was finally rewarded with a victory, as several loud chants of “Lets Go Devils” took place throughout the night, most notability in the second period.

Three Stars

#1.) Jacob MacDonald (1g), #2.) Blake Pietila (1g,2a), #3.) Sahir Gill (1g)

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Binghamton will finish their three game home stand on Wednesday with the Laval Rocket in town to take on the Devils.