By Brian Ring
Binghamton, NY, January 6, 2012 – The Connecticut Whale fell to the Binghamton Senators, 3-1, Friday night at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena. The Senators scored twice in the second period to come from behind and beat the Whale, adding an empty-net goal in the last minute.
Francois Bouchard netted the only goal of the game for Connecticut, while Pat Cannone netted the game-winning tally for Binghamton. Andre Petersson had a goal and an assist, as did Corey Locke, for the Senators, who swept the two game season-series from the Whale.
Connecticut outshot their hosts, 22-6, in the third period, but could not manage to tie the game.
“I thought in the third period, when we pushed harder, we got more consistent offensive output,” said Whale head coach Ken Gernander. “In the first two periods, we tried forcing plays, we turned down shots, we didn’t put pucks deep and consequently we didn’t generate much offense. I think that was the difference between the third period and the first two.”
The Whale struck first, despite being outshot 16-10 in the opening frame. Bouchard netted his third goal of the season at 12:44 to give the Whale a 1-0 advantage, the only scoring of the period. Kelsey Tessier won a draw to Binghamton goaltender Mike McKenna’s (38 saves) right, beating Stephane Da Costa, and the puck found its way straight to Bouchard, who snapped it past McKenna.
Binghamton rallied to take the lead in the second period, as Petersson tallied ninth of the season on the power-play at 7:35 beating Whale goaltender Chad Johnson (37 saves) to tie the game at one. The goal was assisted by Locke, a former Hartford Wolf Pack and the Senators’ All-Star representative, and Mike Hoffman.
The Senators would strike again exactly one minute later with the game-winning tally, when Pat Cannone deflected a Tim Conboy shot past Johnson for the 2-1 advantage. David Dziurzynski also assisted on the goal, Cannone’s ninth of the season
Locke would add an empty-net goal with 33 seconds left to seal the win for Binghamton.
The Whale will be back in action Saturday night, when they host the Springfield Falcons at the XL Center (7:00 PM). The two rivals will then meet again Sunday afternoon at Springfield’s MassMutual Center (3:00).
Fans wearing a Whale or New York Ranger jersey to Saturday’s game will receive a 50% discount on upper-level seats and lower-level end-zone seats. The offer is valid only at the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center.
Tickets to Saturday’s game, the January 21 CWHL double-header vs. Norfolk, Trading Card Weekend and CT Hockey Hall of Fame Night, and all 2011-12 Whale home games, are on sale now at the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, as well as on-line at www.ctwhale.com and through TicketMaster Charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000.
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Connecticut Whale 1 at Binghamton Senators 3
Friday, January 6, 2012 – Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena
Connecticut 1 0 0 – 1
Binghamton 0 2 1 – 3
1st Period-1, Connecticut, Bouchard 3 (Tessier), 12:44. Penalties-Owens Ct (fighting), 11:11; Borowiecki Bng (fighting), 11:11; Bell Ct (cross-checking), 16:45.
2nd Period-2, Binghamton, Petersson 9 (Locke, Hoffman), 7:35 (PP). 3, Binghamton, Cannone 9 (Conboy, Dziurzynski), 8:35. Penalties-Avery Ct (slashing), 6:29; Hoffman Bng (slashing), 9:11; Avery Ct (cross-checking), 11:49.
3rd Period-4, Binghamton, Locke 3 (Petersson, Klinkhammer), 19:26 (EN). Penalties-Conboy Bng (delay of game), 5:42.
Shots on Goal-Connecticut 10-7-22-39. Binghamton 16-18-6-40.
Power Play Opportunities-Connecticut 0 / 2; Binghamton 1 / 3.
Goalies-Connecticut, Johnson 10-6-3 (39 shots-37 saves). Binghamton, McKenna 10-9-0 (39 shots-38 saves).
A-3,684
Referees-Chris Brown (86).
Linesmen-Jim Harper (59), John Everett (82).
