B-Sens fall to Amerks in shootout

12/21/2012 (Updated 11:11:09 PM)

ROCHESTER, N.Y.  - After both squads lost the lead not once, but twice tonight, the Binghamton Senators fell to the Rochester Americans 6-5 in what turned into a sudden death shootout at Blue Cross Arena during the third of their eight scheduled meetings this season.

The Amerks opened the scoring with back-to-back goals in the middle of the first period. The first came on a power play scored by Evan Rankin at 10:42, ending Binghamton's consecutive penalty kill streak of 23. Assists were credited to Cody Hodgson and T.J. Brennan. At 11:10, Luke Adam, assisted by Mark Mancari and Kevin Porter, gave Rochester a two-goal advantage. With 20 seconds remaining in the period, Hugh Jessiman put the B-Sens on the board with helpers from Corey Cowick and Pat Wiercioch.

At 4:43 of the second frame, the B-Sens tied the game at two when Tyler Eckford netted one past Rochester backstop David Leggio with assists from David Dziurzynski and Derek Grant. Rochester regained the lead at 9:10 courtesy of Porter, assisted by Mancari. Binghamton's Jakob Silfverberg tied it back up, unassisted, at the 13:29 mark. The goal is his team-leading tenth of the season. Andre Benoit would give the B-Sens a 4-3 lead heading into the third at 16:42 with assists from Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Jessiman.

An eventful third period began with a Binghamton power play goal off the stick of Wiercioch at 8:58. Benoit and Mike Hoffman would assist. Rochester would then make up their two-goal deficit in a span of 49 seconds. At 10:01, Brennan, assisted by Hodgson and Brayden McNabb, brought Rochester within one. Then Kevin Sundher tied the game at five with his first professional goal. 

Following a scoreless overtime, Silfverberg and Hoffman gave the B-Sens an early shootout advantage. However, the Amerks would come from behind with goals from Brennan and Marcus Foligno pushing the shootout to sudden death. Hodgson scored the game winning goal in the sixth round to seal the 6-5 victory for the Amerks.

Earning the win in goal tonight was Leggio, who made 34 saves on 39 shots. Ben Bishop tended goal for the B-Sens and came away with the loss despite turning aside 36 of 41 shots.

The B-Sens return home tomorrow to face the same Amerks at 7:05 p.m.

COURTESY: BINGHAMTON SENATORS

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