The Binghamton Black Bears continued their strong
play following their division-clinching victory the night before,
shutting out the Danbury Hat Tricks (20-23-5)
5–0 Saturday evening at the Danbury Ice Arena. Coming off a 4–0
victory over the Port Huron Prowlers that secured their third
straight Empire Division title, Binghamton carried that momentum
into Danbury and controlled the game from start to finish. The win
improved the Black Bears to 41-5-2 on the season and extended their
season-series dominance over Danbury to 11-0-1.
The Black
Bears struck late in the opening period to take the early lead over
the Hat Tricks at the Danbury Ice Arena. After a tightly played
first period, Ivan Bondarenko broke the scoreless
tie with just 13 seconds remaining in the frame. Bondarenko
showcased some slick stickhandling with a couple of nifty dekes
before beating Danbury goaltender Kyle Penton at
19:47 for his 15th goal of the season, giving Binghamton a 1–0 lead
heading into the intermission. The goal was assisted by
Scott Ramaekers and Mac Jansen. Earlier in
the period, Binghamton received the first power-play opportunity
when Ian Tookenay was called for elbowing at 6:55
after catching Gavin Yates up high. The Black Bears
generated pressure but were unable to capitalize. Danbury had one of
its best chances midway through the period with 6:22 remaining, when
the Hat Tricks broke in on a 2-on-1 against rookie defenseman
Matt York. York played the rush well, forcing the
Danbury forward to fire the puck high and over the net. Late in the
period, the Black Bears penalty kill came up big after Scott
Ramaekers was called for slashing at 16:50. Zac
Sirota sacrificed his body with two key shot blocks, while
Dan Stone
added another block to help Binghamton successfully kill the
penalty. In net for the Black Bears, Brandon Shantz
made his first professional start, while Kyle Penton got the nod for
Danbury.
The Black Bears blew the game open in the second
period, scoring three times to take a commanding lead over the Hat
Tricks. Binghamton extended its lead early in the frame while on the
power play. With Kadyn Fennell serving a
delay-of-game penalty, Ivan Bondarenko redirected a
shot from Austin D’Orazio past Danbury goaltender
Kyle Penton at 5:09 for his second goal of the
night and 16th of the season, giving the Black Bears a 2–0
advantage. Mac Jansen also picked up an assist on
the play. The Black Bears kept the pressure on less than two minutes
later. At 6:59, Zac Sirota tipped a point shot from
Camron Cervone into the net for his goal of the
season, extending the lead to 3–0. Tyson Kirkby
earned the secondary assist. Binghamton added another late in the
period when Gehrett Sargis scored his 14th goal of
the season at 18:18, finishing a play set up by Tyson Kirkby
to make it 4–0 heading into the second intermission. The period also
featured a physical moment midway through the frame when CJ
Stubbs and Ian Tookenay dropped the gloves
at 13:49, resulting in fighting majors for both players and an
additional instigator minor assessed to Stubbs. Despite the chippy
play, Binghamton maintained control throughout the period,
outshooting Danbury 11–8 in the frame. Bondarenko’s power-play goal
also snapped a stretch in which the Black Bears had been unable to
convert on the man advantage over their previous nine opportunities
during the weekend.
Danbury turned to Ayden Pierce
in net to start the third period, replacing Penton, but Binghamton
continued to apply pressure. With Konstantin Chernyuk
serving a hooking penalty late in the game, the Black Bears struck
again on the power play. Mac Jansen blasted home
his 30th goal of the season at 15:30, finishing a feed from
CJ Stubbs and Ivan Bondarenko to cap the
scoring at 5–0. In goal, Brandon Shantz turned
aside all 26 shots he faced to record a shutout in his professional
debut, helping Binghamton secure its second shutout of the weekend.
The Black Bears finished with a 35–26 advantage in shots on goal,
controlling much of the play throughout the game.
|
