Prospect Update: Weekend in Norfolk

The Binghamton Senators went down to Virginia to face the Norfolk Admirals in a pair of games this past weekend. On Friday, Andrew Hammond received a rare rest and backup goaltender Scott Greenham took his spot between the pipes for the Sens. The Sens also welcomed Max McCormick back into the line-up after missing just under a month with an injury.

The two teams exchanged a few chances early in the game until the Admirals opened the scoring at the 6:11 mark of the first. Backing up into his own zone, defenceman Patrick Mullen lost his balance, took a tumble, and coughed up the puck to David Pacan of the Admirals. He broke in and put it past Greenham to put the Sens down 1-0.

Binghamton would answer back ten minutes later. Off a two-on-one rush, Darren Kramer fired it on net and the rebound went right to Max McCormick's stick who fired home his first professional goal.

Late in the first period, Shane Prince took an ill-advised hooking penalty in the offensive zone to put the Admirals on the powerplay. Norfolk took full advantage of the penalty and Louis Leblanc scored the go-ahead goal to put them up 2-1.

Daniel New would add the tying goal for the Sens in the second period to even the score at two. Alex Guptill would then add the go-ahead off what looked like a harmless wrist shot on a rush.

Midway through the second, Alex Grant found McCormick with a long stretch breakaway pass. McCormick rifled it top shelf past the Norfolk goaltender, Igor Bobkov, to put the Sens up 4-2.

Jean-Gabriel Pageau would add an empty net goal from center ice to close out the win for the Sens.

Binghamton Senators 5 - Norfolk Admirals 2

Binghamton Senators Record: 5-7-2

Saturday: Binghamton Senators at Norfolk Admirals

After winning on Friday, the Sens were looking for the weekend sweep on Saturday night. After giving him the night off last night, coach Luke Richardson turned back to Hammond in goal for the Sens.

In a busy first period, the Admirals opened the scoring on a powerplay midway through the first period off a tipped point shot that found its way past Hammond. The Sens thought they had found a quick answer to the goal when Puempel redirected the puck past the Norfolk goaltender. Unfortunately, the goal was immediately waved off as his stick was ruled to be above the crossbar.

Not long after the disallowed goal, the Admirals crashed the net to put one past Hammond. Luckily for the Sens, that goal was also waved off as the Norfolk forward had interfered with the Binghamton goalie. The busy first period ended with Norfolk leading 1-0 in goals and 20-13 in shots.

Early in the second frame, the Admirals turned it over in the Senators' zone. Carter Camper scooped up the loose puck, fed it up quickly to Alex Guptill at the Norfolk blue line. He quickly threw it up to Shane Prince who broke in on a breakaway and made no mistake by burying it over the Admirals goaltender, Yann Danis.

Later, forward David Dziurzynski showed some great patience behind the Admirals' net, waiting for an open pass. He found defenceman Alex Grant who was cheating down the side wall and blasted it home to put the Sens ahead 2-1.

The Admirals battled back to start the third period. Former Binghamton and Ottawa Senator, Brendan Bell, fired home a slapshot from the point off a clean faceoff win by Dave Steckel.

The line of Matt Puempel, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, and Buddy Robinson continued to impress. They had quite a few chances in the third, but could not find the back of the net.

The Admirals potted the game winning goal on a strange play just past the midway point of the third period. Hammond could not control the rebound of an Admiral point shot, it bounced around a little, Norfolk forward Louis Leblanc swatted at it, and it ricocheted off Hammond and into the net.

Binghamton Senators 2 - Norfolk Admirals 3

Binghamton Senators Record: 5-8-2

Who Stood Out this Week:

Max McCormick: He did not show any rust in his first game in about a month, potting two goals and an assist in his first game back. Despite playing in a bottom six role, he could see some increased ice time if he continues to take advantage of his opportunities.

The Week Ahead:

Friday, November 21 at 7:00pm. Manchester Monarchs at Binghamton Senators.
Saturday, November 22 at 7:00pm. Albany Devils at Binghamton Senators.

Notable Updates from North American Prospects:

Ben Harpur: He represented the OHL in a game against the Russians in the Subway Super Series. Harpur caught one of the Russians coming across the middle with a hard hit to the head. He was given a five minute major and a game misconduct for the hit. He was also handed a three game suspension from the OHL.

Chris Driedger: He started three games for the ECHL Evansville Icemen this past week, and played some forgettable hockey. He picked up the loss each time, while allowing 13 goals in eight periods of work. The Icemen have a busy week ahead with four games, so Driedger will have plenty of opportunity to shake off the past games.

Nick Paul: He played in back-to-back-to-back-to-back games this week. As part of team OHL, they failed to score a goal against the Russians, losing 4-0. Back with the North Bay Battalion, he racked up two goals and three assists in his three games this weekend. He now has 16 goals and 8 assists through 19 games.

Francis Perron: He recorded two goals and two assists in a pair of games this week. Those points bring him to a total of 14 goals and 15 assists through 20 games. Perron has been selected to represent the QMJHL when the Subway Super Series heads to Bathurst and Rimouski this week.