BDevils’ Goalie Evan Cormier Stops 26 For First Pro Victory

Rookie goaltender Evan Cormier stopped 26 of 28 shots and bounced back from Friday’s loss in a 3-2 win over the visiting Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Saturday. The victory halted the Devils three-game losing skid and was Cormier’s first professional career win as he was steady and smooth in net.

It wasn’t the Devils this time to get an early lead as Bridgeport (21-11-4-2) jumped in front in the first period on a powerplay goal from Travis St. Denis (10), as Johnson had some traffic in front while the puck slid harmlessly by his side of the net.

Photo provided by Alicia Strauch

Binghamton (16-20-3-0) would tie it 2:51 into the middle frame as rookie defenseman Colby Sissons’ shot from along the wall found its way past partially screened goalie Jeremy Smith for his first pro goal. Devils then scored the go-ahead marker at 8:31 on a pretty play for a power play tally. Brandon Gignac found Nick Lappin by the corner of the cage and swung a backhand pass across the crease that drew Smith out of position and Kapla was there for the easy put in.

With time running down, Devils’ defenseman John Ramage was down low near the blue paint and sent a backhanded shot past Smith with 1.5 seconds left in the second period. It was a crazy sequence of events with a mad scramble in front as Smith was livid afterward that he was interfered with but the play stood with the Devils up 3-1.

Photo provided by Alicia Strauch

In the final twenty minutes, the Sound Tigers crawled their way back to within one as forward Otto Koivula (12) skated freely up the middle dodging traffic and sent a low wrister by Cormier with a 1:57 remaining. With Smith pulled once again for the extra attacker, the aggressive play on the puck by Binghamton kept them from any further damage during the pushback by Bridgeport. The boys needed this one and it was a good 60-minute effort from everyone with the support of the fans.

Line-Up, Game #39

Forwards: Gignac - Rooney - Lappin, Baddock - Schmelzer - Bastian, Saracino - Sharangovich - Studenic, Ward - Speers - Gabriel

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

In Goal: Evan Cormier, Jeremy Brodeur

Scratches: Brian Strait, Eddie Lack, Eric Tangradi, Eric Gryba and Michael McLeod

Post Game Notes

• G Jeremy Brodeur, son of Marty Brodeur, and playing in Norfolk in the ECHL was signed to a PTO before the game with Cam Johnson called up. Devils went with the exact same line-up as on Friday. McLeod was seen in street clothes afterward and appeared fine.
• Lots of firsts tonight with Sissons’ goal in the 1st, Kapla’s goal in the 2nd and game puck given to Cormier at the end.
• A brutal boarding play by Kyle Burroughs on Ryan Schmelzer as he only received 2 minutes, which should have been a 5-minute major. Look for a suspension to come in the next couple of days to Burroughs as the Devils’ brass would want the league to look at that one for sure.
• The Devils’ late goal in the 2nd was highly debated by the Bridgeport coaches in what they thought was goalie interference. Replays would clearly show Smith out of the blue paint area as the play is not reviewable.
• A non-goal called against Binghamton in the 3rd was something that remains a mystery. Replays showed a Devil parked in front and made contact with Smith knocking to the ice with much dramatics, however, the play continued 5 or 6 seconds later with an apparent goal form Binghamton. It was then waved off. Why there was no whistle when the initial contact was made is a mystery.
• Bridgeport looked to be sluggish and at times sloppy as they suffered their 3rd straight loss. Lots of words and skirmishes after whistles between the two clubs as Bridgeport made their only appearance of the season at The Floyd. Shots in favor of the Devils 34-28.

Three Stars

#1. Evan Cormier (26 saves), #2. Colby Sissons (1g), #3. John Ramage (1g, 1a)

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Syracuse Crunch is in town on Wednesday of next week as Binghamton looks to get on the win column against their division rivals.