Scott Greenham's 33 Save Performance Earns Shutout Over Amerks
Binghamton continues to roll with 4-0 win in Rochester
With the goaltending scene all crazy like in the organization, out emerges one that you're glad to have just in case as veteran Scott Greenham was excellent between the pipes in recording his first shutout of the season, 4-0 over the Rochester Americans. The Sens tried to give the game away letting Rochester back in it while being penalized seven times (including two five on threes), but Greenham put up a wall and secured the win on the road.
Binghamton went two for three on the power play, but two goals in eight seconds in the first period set the tone as Rochester goaltender Linus Ullmark didn't have a very good night giving up some rebounds that the Senators simply buried.
Rookie Nick Paul scored in his third straight contest as he caught a backhand pass from newly acquired defenseman Colin Allen in front and directed it past Ullmark for a 1-0 lead. Just eight seconds later, Binghamton went up by two with David Dziurzynski pouncing on a juicy rebound off a shot by Ryan Penny as Ullmark kicked the puck right to Dizzy at the corner.
Greenham had some lady luck of his own as Rochester had scored only one goal in their last eight periods entering tonight's contest, but did come up with some beauties. Especially in the second period as he made a spectacular glove save on a one-timer in front by Rochester forward Dan Catenacci. Amazing save.
The Senators would then score their first of two on the power play, as Ryan Dzingel shoots the puck off a rebound save on Matt Puempel's one-timer, as Ullmark didn't have much of a chance to come up with it. Rochester defense looks to be not helping much as they let Eric O'Dell's team leading 14th seem like a cakewalk, as he simply grabbed a loose puck by the side of the net and pots it into the twine untouched.
Team chemistry is so important and it's happening right now during the end of the second quarter. Binghamton continues to roll on gathering points and inching, what was once inconceivable to many including myself, a post season appearance. (At least here's hoping so.)
TONIGHT'S LINE-UP
Dzingel-O'Dell-Robinson
Lindberg-Paul-Schneider
Puempel-Flanagan-Greening
Penny-Dziurzynski-Stortini
Lepine-Kostka
Fraser-Carlisle
Sdao-Allen
Scott Greenham
Chris Driedger
WHO'S OUT
Ben Harpur, Nick Tuzzolino, Matt O'Connor injured. Troy Rutkowski, Travis Ewanyk healthy.
POST GAME NOTES
- Allen made his season debut for the Senators after Thursday's trade for Patrick Mullen and was paired up with Mike Sdao. He looks to have some offensive awareness, as he carried the puck into the offensive zone and fed it over to Paul for his first point with his new team.
- Cole Schneider had two assists and Dzingel, a goal and a helper, giving them both 30 points to lead the club. Paul scored his fifth of the season and third in three straight games.
- Good ole Patrick Kaleta made his presence felt getting into a fight with Guy Lepine and landing some lefts as he tied up Lepine with his jersey over his head. The two would continue to battle the rest of the night and at one time Lepine dropped his gloves but Kaleta backed off with his team down by three. Look for those two to drop 'em at puck drop on Saturday with Lepine seeking revenge.
- I thought Greenham kept his rebounds to a minimum and was positionally sound as he takes up a lot of the net. He doesn't belong in the ECHL but that's the only option there is with the way the organization is set this season with goalies. Matt O'Connor is still a few weeks away and who knows how long Chris Driedger will be covering for Andrew Hammond in Ottawa so he'll get some games in while he's here. EDIT: Driedger was sent down today.
- A quick look at the standings for the special teams as Bingo jumped up four spots to 10th place on the power play at 18.2%, and also a four team leap on the PK in the 18th slot with a 82.4%. Encouraging numbers as both the PP and PK were the difference tonight.
- This is the first win in four tries for the Senators over the Amerks this season as they have dominated Rochester in recent years. Let's see if they can make it two in two nights as the rivals will lace them up in Bingo on Saturday.
BOX SCORE
UPCOMING GAMES
Home and home weekend series against the Amerks concludes on Saturday at The Floyd. Next weekend, two home games as the club is in the middle of four in five at home.