The Binghamton Senators went into the DCU Center in Worcester Saturday looking to keep the momentum going from Friday’s 4-1 win over the Manchester Monarchs.
The B-Sens struck first with 10:59 to go in the third period, but Worcester came back with two of their own and held on for the 2-1 victory.
The Sharks and B-Sens tangled in the first of two meetings this season and goaltenders Mike McKenna for Binghamton and Tyler Sexsmith for Worcester were up to the task for the first 40 minutes.
Worcester had the best chances in the first period, as they rattled off 17 shots. The period also featured a fight between Francis Lessard and Jimmy Bonneau. Each combatant landed a few shots, but no real advantage for either.
Binghamton managed just five shots in the first period. Three of those shots were off the stick of Derek Grant. Pat Cannone and Andre Petersson each had one. Worcester’s total was helped by two unsuccessful power-plays.
The second period featured just 13 shots combined, with the Sharks coming up with the best chance of the night in the closing few minutes of the period. With McKenna down and seemingly out, he somehow found the puck and did a double-pad stack. The puck then rolled past the net, as he scrambled back into position.
The Sharks held a 7-6 advantage in shots at the end of the period, but there was no advantage for either side on the scoreboard.
The third period began with Worcester on the attack as they got a few shots against McKenna including one that went off the crossbar about 2:15 in.
Binghamton finally broke through with 10:59 to go in the game when Cannone let a shot go with a defenseman all over him and Sexsmith couldn’t find it, giving Binghamton a 1-0 lead.
Worcester would get their fourth power-play of the night when Stephane Da Costa went off for boarding at 11:14. With about nine seconds left in that power-play, the Sharks swarmed the net and Tommy Wingels was the last to touch it, tying things 1-1 at the 13:05 mark.
Worcester took just 2:47 to find the back of the net as a rebound came off McKenna's pad and on to the stick of Ryan Del Monte, who flipped it up and in. It was the Sharks first lead of the night, 2-1.
With 1:19 to go in the game, Binghamton coach Kurt Kleinendorst called timeout and kept McKenna on the bench. Binghamton gave it all they had, buzzing the net for almost that entire sequence. Mike Hoffman hit the goalpost, but Binghamton failed to find the equalizer.
McKenna made 33 saves, but ended up on the wrong end of a great effort. The loss snapped a personal two-game win streak. Sexsmith made 21 saves.
Binghamton (8-13-1-1) wraps up their three-in-three weekend with a 3:00 PM faceoff tomorrow against the Connecticut Whale. They are now 4-8 away from the Broome County Arena this season.
For more info: Binghamton @ Worcester gamesheet
Game notes: Rob Klinkhammer made his debut for Binghamton and was credited with one shot. Matt Carkner, who played his first game in a reconditioning stint on Friday, rested Saturday night. He is expected to play tomorrow in Connecticut. Petersson’s seven-game point streak came to an end on Saturday.
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