Binghamton Devils Suffer Fifth Straight Loss

NEWARK, NJ - They played from behind by a goal only to tie it, before they let it slip away as the Binghamton Devils lose to the Hershey Bears 6-3 on Friday at RWJ Barnabas Health Hockey House. Four unanswered in the middle frame was the difference as the more experienced Bears team raised havoc on the Devils’ young defense as goaltender Gilles Senn was the victim who ended up with 26 saves.

This was not a pretty one to witness and this trend of losing needs to turn around quickly before the season slips away.

The lone goal in the opening period belonged to the Bears (4-1-2-0) as Garrett Pilon drew the puck through his legs and up over the shoulder of Senn for his first of the season.

Photo Credit: JustSports Photography / Binghamton Devils

Binghamton (2-3-1-1) would tie it early in the second on a rebound shot by Nolan Foote by netminder Ilya Samsonov, and the Devils looked to be in business. But that all came crashing down soon after. Hershey would go on and score the next four goals as the Bears dominating the Devils’ defense and Senn as well.

In the final period, the BDevils struck for a pair of goals to cut the deficit by two as Jesper Boqvist’s shot was picked up off the rebound by Nick Merkley on a nice effort near the crease. Shortly after Boqvist with a sweet backhand pass landed on the stick of Marian Studenic in front as he one-timed it past Samsonov for his first of the season.

However, any third-period magic would be put to rest. With Senn off for the extra attacker, Brett Leason sent the puck into the empty net for his second of the night that led to a 6-3 final. It would be Binghamton’s fifth straight loss as they were outshot 32-28.

LINE-UP, GAME #8

Foote - Street - Merkley, Seney - Boqvist - Studenic, Martel - St. Denis - Zetterlund, Thomson - Darcy - Irvine

Okhotiuk/Tennyson - Vukojevic/White - Bahl/Quenneville

Senn - Cormier

SCRATCHES

Brodeur, Schnarr, Koules, Walsh & Clarke

TRANSACTIONS

A pair of defensemen swap as Matt Tennyson cleared waivers and played in his first game back for the BDevils while Josh Jacobs was called up to the taxi squad for NJ.

POSTGAME NOTES

• The two teams meet again on Saturday at 4:00 pm in Hershey.
• Both Boqvist and Tyler Irvine finished with a game-high five shots with Irvine registering four in the first. Boqvist also had the BDevils’ first penalty shot of the season but was denied during the first period.
• Defenseman David Quenneville played in his 3rd straight and looked solid as just about the high point from the blueline.
• Binghamton’s problem during this stretch of losses is not putting in a full 60-minute effort. Too many times the club has been playing from behind and not taking leads. It’s taxing on some of the younger players while frustrating the older ones. Not a good combination to be experiencing but there is talent on this club. Just need a break-out performance that needs to start sooner than later during this shortened season.

THREE STARS

Kody Clark (2g), Marian Studenic (1g), Jesper Boqvist (2a)

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

A LOOK FROM ABOVE