It was a warm hockey night here in NEPA as the Binghamton Senators came to town to take on the WBS Penguins for game three of round 1, the WBS Penguins holding a 2-0 lead in the series coming into tonight’s game

Early on Mormina sits giving bingo the first power play WBS kills it nicely. Binghamton would get an early lead as WBS turns it over, it would be Puempel getting the Senators out in front but just as they get things going the senators clear it over the glass to put WBS on the power play but it does no good for the boys.

Later in the period a Penguin penalty on McNeill turns into a power play for Binghamton but just as it gets started Bingo’s Wideman takes am interference penalty making it a 4 on 4 then a short power play for WBS. First ends Bingo 1 WBS 0.

Second period WBS would get back to back power plays before the fifteen minute mark but would have nothing to show for their effort

Boroweicki and Collins get matching minors for roughing after a little skirmish in front of Lawson creating some more 4 on 4 hockey WBS getting some chances but no goals.

Later Dumoulin puts it over the glass for a delay of game penalty pitting WBS back on the PK something that has been solid all season and showing it tonight.

More penguins penalties in the third giving the PK yet another workout Megna and Sill on a short handed breakaway for the even up goal Sill makes it 1-1 chipping one past Lawson and brings the Mohegan Sun Arena to life.

WBS has some great chances in the next few possessions but can’t find an opening. The home crowd starting to get annoyed at some of the non calls by tonight’s ref and then a Bronx cheer as finally one goes to the Penguins as Bingo sits for a trip. The WBS Power Play winds up for the fifth time the only difference this time is they convert Riley Holzapfel makes it 2-1 Pens on the power play.

Megna gets the empty netter making it 3-1 Penguins and good thing they did as the Senators score with 2 seconds to make it 3-2 but the Pens hold on and sweep the Senators moving the Penguins on to round two and Binghamton on to an early tee time.

Penguins sweep Senators back to Broome County
Binghamton at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton

On a related note Zatkoff is listed as DTD from sources at the game and Darling is backing up Thiessen.

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Tonight the WBS Penguins took on the Binghamton Senators in Binghamton for game two of round 1 of the Calder Cup Playoffs. WBS looking to go ahead in the series 2-0 Binghamton looking to even it up at one game each.

Just 18 Seconds into this afternoons game the WBS Penguins end up with a four minute power play as Riley Holzapfel gets high sticked by Derek Grant. WBS converts with just a little over a minute left in the double minor and who scores it none other than Riley Holzapfel. Binghamton getting a chance on a turnover gaining some momentum drawing a delayed call on WBS then David Dziurzynski blows his top nullifying the Senators power play creating 4 x 4 hockey.

Zatkoff with a great save on the Senators flashing his right pad keeping it 1-0 WBS. The Senators score as they get get behind the defense take a shot and tie it up at one. That’s where the first would end

Second period sees more actions Farnham sits in the box giving the Senators a glorious chance to get the go ahead power play goal but the WBS penalty kill holds the line keeping it one to one. Jessiman would sit for an elbow giving WBS the same opportunity but the WBS Power Play would not get it going.

Twelve minutes in Collins puts one past Lawson giving the Pens the go ahead goal but the ever dangerous Senators still looking to come back. Later in the second Peters puts it in the net giving the WBS Penguins a two goal lead now 3-1 WBS. That would be the score leaving the ice for the second intermission.

3rd period was give and get both sides trading power plays both getting two each by the 4 minute mark but neither side taking advantage of it WBS still leading by two. Later in the period Binghamton’s Lebda takes a 2 minute unsportsmanlike and a ten for abuse of officials giving WBS another power play. Just as it gets going when Mark Borowiecki nails Riley Holzapfel in the mouth making it a 5 on 3 power play for the Pens, but the power plays devolve with nothing coming from them.

With 18.6 to go Binghamton scores making it 3-2 that’s a third period power play empty net goal if you were wondering Joey Mormina was in the bin for holding. That’s where it ends fans the WBS Penguins now on top in the series and coming home, now don’t think it’s going to be easy Binghamton is still a dangerous team and can mount a come back if given the chance. WBS has to keep their nose to the grindstone and keep the pressure on the Senators.

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B-SENS DROP GAME 2 VERSUS PENS, 3-2
W/B Scranton at Bingahamton

It was a great beginning to the post season for the WBS Penguins beating the Senators 3-2 but stretching it to OT to do it. Penguins looked good in the first period but not so much in the second and some of the third. It wouldn’t be until the OT period that the WBS Penguins found their way again scoring the game winner and taking game one in round one of the 2013 Calder Cup playoffs

Early in the game Kolarik and Smith working together get a nice set up and a quick shot but Lawson keeps them out. WBS working on John Hynes keys to the game keeping after the Senators giving them a lot of different looks creating some good chances.

WBS gets the first power-play as Binghamton sits in the box for a trip, in the bin would be Pat Cannone. And the Penguins come up big as Dumoulin finds Gibbons crashing the net gets him the puck for a nice tap in goal making it 1-0 Penguins. WBS holding Binghamton to no shots on goal until three quarters of the way through the first period Zatkoff had to save it with 5:54 left.

Chad Kalorik capitalizes on a turnover by Stephane Da Costa
smoking one past Lawson making it 2-0 Penguins. Binghamton gets a late power play with 1:41 left in the first as Alex Grant sits for a high stick, and the Senators score Shane Prince makes it count leaving the ice for the first intermission Penguins lead 2-1.

Just over a minute into the second
period the Pens get a power play as sits Jessiman sits for a slash, then as it starts up Derek Grant takes a tripping penalty making it a 5 on 3 but Nesbitt gets called for a high stick off the jump reducing it to a 4 on 3 after all that no goal. Binghamton seemed to make some adjustments during the intermission or the Pens lost some momentum for the first half of the second period giving the Senators some great chances with their sloppy play.

Payerl ends up in the bin giving Binghamton their second power play of the period the first lasting all of some three seconds not really something you can count. Despite the sloppy play during the second period the WBS penalty kill comes up big. A bad turnover by Samuelson and a pounce by Stone gives Bignhamton the even up goal with most of the second period gone.

Third period gets off the ground Binghamton playing a good transition game as they did in second not to mention good defense as well 6:30 in to the third and WBS not getting a shot on net. Kolarik gets a good rush with Samuelson causing David Dziurzynski to take a tripping penalty giving WBS a great power play chance. Brian Gibbons almost puts one home off the jump but Lawson snags it. Senators get a short handed chance on a WBS turnover but Zatkoff keeps it out.

WBS started to look tired deep in the third getting caught standing still at times third ends even at two and we are heading for overtime for the first post season game of 2013.

OT starts with some sloppy turnovers from the Pens but Zatkoff keeps the Senators honest, Penguins with a chance or two but nothing happening. WBS seemed to pick it up a bit started to look like they did in the first period. Chad Kolarik scores a nice wrist shot putting past Lawson taking game one round one of the Calder Cup playoffs.

When we asked John Hynes to talk about the momentum change from the first to the second and third what adjustments he made if any for the OT he said

“Binghamton played real well in the 2nd,” Hynes said. “We can do a better job nullifying that but in general I like the way we pushed back when the momentum went in their favor. We bent but didn’t break.”

Thank you to Tony Androckitis from Highland Park Hockey for getting our question answered.

B-Sens drop game-1 to Pens in OT
W/B Scranton at Binghamton

As soon as our corespondent gets back we will have a comment from Coach Hynes as well.
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Just a little tid bit from around the league, you have to see this save to believe it, it is a Behind the back circus save by Drew MacIntyre of the AHL Toronto Marlies versus the Rochester Americans. WOW !

Calder Cup Highlight of the Night
Circus save by Drew MacIntyre of the Toronto Marlies

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, in conjunction with American Hockey League, announced today that goalies Jeff Zatkoff and Brad Thiessen are the recipients of the Harry “Hap” Holmes Memorial Award for the 2012-13 season. Since 1972, the award has been presented to the goaltender(s) with at least 25 games played on the team which allows the fewest goals in the regular season.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton surrendered a league-low 178 goals in 2012-13, finishing its regular season on Saturday with a record of 42-30-2-2 and 88 points, qualifying for the Calder Cup Playoffs for the 11th consecutive season. This is the second time in the last three seasons that the Penguins have earned this honor as Thiessen and John Curry allowed only 183 goals in 2010-11. Dany Sabourin also took home the award for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton during the 2005-06 season.

Zatkoff posted a 26-20-0 record and five shutouts in 49 appearances for the Penguins, leading the AHL with a 1.93 goals-against average and compiling a .920 save percentage. Thiessen, who also won the Hap Holmes Award in 2010-11, was 16-12-2 with four shutouts, a 2.68 GAA and a .902 save percentage in 32 games.

The Harry “Hap” Holmes Memorial Award, which was first awarded in 1948 to the goaltender with the best goals-against average in the AHL, is named for Hockey Hall of Famer Harry “Hap” Holmes, a prominent figure in early professional hockey and an outstanding goaltender of his time. Previous winners or co-winners of the award include Gil Mayer (1951, ’53, ’54, ’55, ’56), Johnny Bower (1957, ’58), Marcel Paille (1961, ’62), Gerry Cheevers (1965), Gilles Villemure (1969, ’70), Pete Peeters (1979), Pelle Lindbergh (1981), Olaf Kolzig (1994), Mike Dunham (1995), Manny Legace (1996), Jean-Sebastien Giguere (1998), Martin Biron (1999), Joey MacDonald (2003), Jason LaBarbera (2005, 2007), Dany Sabourin (2006), Cory Schneider (2009), Cedrick Desjardins (2010) and Ben Scrivens (2012).

In operation since 1936, the American Hockey League continues to serve as the top development league for all 30 National Hockey League teams. Nearly 90 percent of all players competing in the NHL are AHL graduates, and through the years the American Hockey League has been home to more than 100 honored members of the Hockey Hall of Fame. Sixteen clubs will continue to vie for the league’s coveted championship trophy when the 2013 Calder Cup Playoffs get underway next week.