The Binghamton Senators and Rochester Americans finished their eight-game season series on Wednesday night at Blue Cross Arena.
Luke Adam led the home team with a goal and an assist and goaltender David Leggio came up with 18 saves, leading the Amerks to a 3-1 victory over the B-Sens.
The Amerks got off to a great start against Binghamton starting goaltender Nathan Lawson, ripping off the first 12 shots in the opening period. Luckily, none of them found the back of the net.
The best opportunity came late in the period when Rick Schofield took off on a shorthanded breakaway and hit the outside of the net, with less than three minutes left.
Lawson made 16 saves in all in the period. Leggio was tested just six times in the opening 20.
The B-Sens started the second period with 1:44 of power-play time, but didn’t test Leggio. Lawson was busy at the other end, as the Amerks got three shots on him, but couldn’t cross the goal line.
The game remained even through the first 10 minutes plus of the second period before Rochester finally broke the seal with a goal from Matt Ellis. Cody McCormick rifled a shot toward Lawson, who kicked it out, right to Ellis, who knocked it home to make it 1-0 with 6:12 left in the period.
Binghamton answered back when Derek Grant scored his team-leading 17th of the season, 1:20 later. It was Grant's second tally in as many games. He scored the last second game-winner Sunday at Hershey. Wacey Hamilton started the play, picking up a rolling puck and found Grant, who beat Leggio to tie the game, 1-1.
The stalemate didn’t last long, as Rochester’s Luke Adam fired a shot that went through Lawson’s five-hole, 2:24 after Grant’s goal, helping the Amerks regain their one goal lead.
Rochester continued their stranglehold on the shot board as the second period expired, out-shooting Binghamton 12-6 in the period and 28-12 overall.
The Amerks took advantage of another rebound early in the third period when Nick Tarnasky rocketed one off the pads of Lawson. Again, the B-Sens goaltender couldn’t corral the juicy rebound and Maxime Legault was there to push it in and give Rochester the 3-1 lead with 2:18 gone in the period.
Adam got the secondary assist on the Legault goal and with that, his second point of the night.
From there, the Americans went to the prevent defense and Binghamton managed just seven shots in the period and 19 overall. Rochester had 11 in the period, but needed just one, to put the game away on the Legault goal.
Lawson made 36 saves and Leggio got his league-best 31st win of the season, stopping 18-of-19 shots.
For more info: Binghamton @ Rochester game report
Binghamton (31-23-3-1) missed out on a chance to overtake the idle Syracuse Crunch, for the East Division lead. The loss ended a six-game unbeaten streak for the B-Sens.
The B-Sens will return home Friday night to take on the Adirondack Phantoms on McDonald's Mascot Mania Night. The game will get underway at 7:05 p.m.
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