Prospect Update: Streaking in Bingo

The Binghamton Senators had a very busy weekend. They kicked it off on the road against the Rochester Americans. The Sens regular goalie, Andrew Hammond, was called up to Ottawa due to an injury to Robin Lehner, so Chris Driedger continued his call-up with Binghamton. But on Friday, it was Scott Greenham getting the nod looking to continue the Senators' hot streak.

After a poor first period being outshot 10-5 and some quality goaltending by Greenham, the Sens were lucky to enter the first intermission at a scoreless draw. The number one line (meaning, any line with Jean-Gabriel Pageau on it) opened the scoring midway through the second period. Ryan Dzingel came down the right wing and backhanded it on net. A juicy rebound popped out to the slot for Pageau who was also stopped. Cole Schneider made no mistake on that rebound and gave the Sens a 1-0 lead with a snipe to the top right corner. Shortly thereafter, the Sens took to the powerplay and Derek Grant tipped home an Alex Grant point shot.

A missed assignment combined with too much puck chasing in the Binghamton zone led to the Amerks cutting the lead to one. The Binghamton fourth line would answer back in the third with a goal from Max McCormick from the high slot off a feed from Darren Kramer.

With a 3-1 lead, it was now Pageau's chance to shine with a gorgeous finish on a rebound while falling down after being robbed by the Amerks' goalie's toe.

David Dziurzynski was hit hard late in the game, and Darren Kramer came in to stick up for him and picked up an instigator penalty in the process. With the instigator in the final five minutes, Kramer was given an automatic one-game suspension. The Sens successfully locked the game down, and came out with the 4-1 win.

Binghamton Senators 4 - Rochester Americans 1

Binghamton Senators Record: 10-8-3

Saturday: Adirondack Flames at Binghamton Senators

Chris Driedger received his second AHL start of the season for the Sens on Teddy Bear Toss Night in Binghamton. The Sens have a record of 3-5-0 on the back end of back-to-back games.

The Flames opened the scoring halfway through the first frame after they shot a rolling puck past Driedger. Fredrik Claesson unintentionally answered back for the Binghamton Senators. He fired a shot way wide off the net hoping that it would bounce into the slot. It did exactly what he had hoped and bounced into the crease, off a Flame defenceman, and into the net for his first of the season. The teddy bears came flying down from the crowd in celebration.

Late in the first, Matt Puempel battled off one of the Flames' defencemen on a one-on-one rush. Brad Thiessen, the Flames goalie, thought he could beat Puempel to the puck but he had gambled incorrectly and Puempel beat him easily to put the Sens up 2-1.

The Flames tied it up 2-2 on a tipped point shot in the second period. The Sens answered right back with one of the own when Derek Grant fed Buddy Robinson on a short two on one who proceeded to go forehand-backhand to restore the Sens lead.

In a busy final thirty seconds of the second period, the Flames tied it up on a shot off the rush. Seven seconds later, Dzingel dropped the gloves with Elson for a short scrap. Off the next faceoff, the Flames took an interference penalty to give the Sens a powerplay. They took quick advantage of the late penalty, and Matt Puempel fired it home to make it 4-3 for the Sens heading into the second intermission.

Danny Hobbs, who was playing in his first game in three weeks, would add some insurance for the Sens at the midway point of the third period to put them up by a pair.

Driedger picked up his second AHL win of the season by stopping 24 of 27 shots. The win was also their sixth in the last seven games and it also gives them points in seven straight.

Binghamton Senators 5 - Adirondack Flames 3

Binghamton Senators Record: 11-8-3

Sunday: Binghamton Senators at Hartford Wolf Pack

For their third game in as many nights, the Binghamton Senators went to Hartford hoping to extend their point streak to eight games. Coach Luke Richardson again turned to Scott Greenham in goal, who is undefeated in regulation on the season.

Hartford took the lead early in the first on a shot from the point on the powerplay. Later on the first, Alex Grant fired a shot on net from the right point, Cole Schneider continued his solid play of late and picked up the trash to even the game at one.

The Wolf Pack would restore their lead on a failed pinch by Fredrik Claesson. He tried to come down the wall to keep the puck in the offensive zone, but missed the puck leading to a two on one rush by the Wolf Pack. They dropped to the puck to the late man who snapped it past Greenham for a 2-1 lead.

In the second, Alex Grant was unable to tie up one of the Hartford forwards on a three on two rush and he had a wide open net to extend the lead to two. Only a minute later, the Wolf Pack applied a heavy forecheck on Claesson, forced a turnover, and buried it to add some more insurance. The Sens went into the second intermission down 4-1.

The Sens came out firing early in the third. The Pageau line gained the zone, moved the puck back to the point to Claesson who blasted it past the Hartford goaltender to narrow the deficit to only two goals. Unfortunately they weren't able to make it any closer despite outshooting the Wolf Pack 15-6 in the third period.

Binghamton Senators 2 - Hartford Wolf Pack 4

Binghamton Senators Record: 11-9-3

Who Stood Out This Week:

Matt Puempel: He had a strong weekend, putting up two goals and two assists. He continues to fire the puck often with 11 shots this weekend, and he seems to always be in the right spot in the offensive zone. Puempel plays hard for the puck and uses some good body positioning to gain an advantage.

Honourable mention to Cole Schneider who has played well on the top line with Pageau, picking up two goals and two assists this weekend.

The Week Ahead:

Friday, December 12 at 7:00pm. Lehigh Valley Phantoms at Binghamton Senators
Saturday, December 13 at 7:00pm Binghamton Senators at Hershey Bears

Notable Updates from North American Prospects:

Nick Paul: He picked up two assists and a goal in three games this past weekend. He is currently on a six game point streak. He was recently named to Canada's Selection Camp roster for the upcoming World Juniors.

Ben Harpur: He was a noticeable omission from the Canadian selection camp roster. It definitely did not help his case that he received a game misconduct and suspension for a hit to the head in the Super Series. Harpur played three games this past week for the Guelph Storm, picking up three assists and a +6 rating.

Vincent Dunn: Played in two games this weekend, picking up a goal in each and adding an assist in the second as well. He now has 11 goals and six assists through 26 games which ranks him sixth on his team. He also leads his team with 87 penalty minutes.

Francis Perron: After recording at least a point in every game in November, he only notched a single assist in three games this week. He is now ranked 16th in the QMJHL with 39 points through 29 games.

Tobias Lindberg: He had a big week, scoring three goals and three assists in three games. He continues to be consistent, picking up at least a point in 23 of 27 games this season.