Binghamton Devils With 3-2 SO Victory Over Belleville Senators

It wasn’t pretty but the Binghamton Devils were able to squeeze by the visiting Belleville Senators in a 3-2 SO win to snap a two-game losing skid on Saturday. Goaltender Cory Schneider stopped 24 of 26 shots in what would be the final tune-up of his recent conditioning stint, including having to reach out to snare the puck from crossing the goal line on the final shooter to preserve the win.

Both clubs exchanged goals in the first period as the Senators scored early at 1:23, as Logan Brown found space and was able to slide the puck past Schneider near the paint for his tenth of the season. Binghamton (21-24-5-0, 47pts) countered back when Blake Pietila’s short pass from along the wall found the stick of Marian Studenic for a breakaway, as he used his speed and unloaded from the hash marks by Sens’ goaltender Marcus Hogberg for his 11th.

Photo provided by Alicia Strauch

In the second Belleville (20-23-2-2, 44pts) regained the lead when Max McCormick’s sweeping one-timer from down low found the back of the net after some pretty passing by Tobias Lindberg to Aaron Luchuk. Up to that point, the shot total was pretty even with 14-13 edge to the Senators.

However, things changed in the final twenty minutes.

With D Cody Goloubef off for holding late in the second, there were 1:44 carry over time into the third and the Devils made the most of it. D Colton White’s shot from the point was deflected in by Nathan Bastian for the tying goal as Hogberg had no chance with traffic in front. Schneider did his work with ease as he kept the Devils in it despite being outshot 11-3 including a PK with inexcusable too many men on the ice call against Binghamton halfway through the period.

Photo provided by Alicia Strauch

There was no scoring in the overtime but the Devils did have their chances.

Onto the shootout with the listed shooters;

Drake Batherson, Logan Brown, Jack Rodewald all with no goals for the Senators.

Marian Studenic, Nathan Bastian (Goal), John Quenneville for the Devils.

Line-Up, Game #50

Forwards: Tangradi - McLeod - Bastian, Gignac - Schmelzer - Lappin, Quenneville - Pietila - Studenic, Baddock - Sharangovich - Sarcino.

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

In Goal: Cory Schneider, Cam Johnson

Scratches: Brian Strait, Eddie Lack and Blake Speers.

Post Game Notes

• Schneider has maxed out his games (5) and days (14) in this recent conditioning stint, his second of the season. Back to NJ, he goes and what’s to follow will be interesting with three netminders. As for Binghamton, perhaps Evan Cormier will be back.
• Brandon Gignac took exception after a whistle on D Andreas Englund after a whistle was heard as both were sent to the box for roughing. Gignac missed a big chunk of last year due to a full-blown ACL as his recovery this season is nothing short of amazing. The irony? It was Englund that did the damage as he leveled out Gignac on a check against the boards that frightful day in Belleville.
• Coach MD went with the identical line-up as of Friday. Perhaps there might be some tweaking as the offense has sputtered lately with two games on tap next weekend in Cleveland.
• Big crowd as it was announced a sell out for the first one of the season.
• With the bonus point, the BDevils remained ahead of the BSens in the North Division but the Senators have three games on hand.

Three Stars

#1. Nathan Bastian (1g), #2. Cory Schneider (24 saves), #3. Max McCormick (1g)

Video Highlights

Upcoming Games

The club has the week off until a trip to Cleveland next weekend to face the Monsters for a pair of games.