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The Binghamton Black Bears (5-2) defeated the
Pee Dee IceCats (5-2) in Game 2 of the Finals down in Florence, SC
to tie the series up at 1 game a piece on Saturday night. The Black Bears
came out with the urgency expected from a defending champion facing an
early series deficit, and their strong opening twenty minutes was rewarded
with a two-goal lead. After Pee Dee successfully killed off an early
penalty, the IceCats found themselves in even deeper trouble midway through
the period. Consecutive penalties to Timur Rasulov and
Charlie Bedard gave Binghamton an extended two-man
advantage, and the Black Bears wasted little time capitalizing. At 11:52,
Austin D'Orazio blasted home a power-play goal from the
point, finishing off a setup from CJ Stubbs and
Ivan Bondarenko to give Binghamton a 1-0 lead. The Black Bears
continued to control the pace for the remainder of the period, hemming Pee
Dee in its own zone and limiting any offensive opportunities. Their
dominance was reflected on the shot clock, as the IceCats failed to record
a single shot on goal over the final ten minutes of the frame. Binghamton
doubled its lead late in the period at 18:05. Following a clean
offensive-zone faceoff win, Dan Stone fired a shot from
the point that found its way through traffic and past Breandan
Colgan. Tyson Kirkby earned the lone assist on
Stone's first goal of the postseason, giving the Black Bears a 2-0
advantage heading into the intermission. By the end of the period,
Binghamton had thoroughly dictated play, outshooting Pee Dee 20-3 while
establishing the type of puck possession and territorial control that has
defined their championship pedigree.
The IceCats responded with a
much stronger second period, cutting into Binghamton's lead and generating
significantly more offensive pressure. Just 3:25 into the middle frame, the
IceCats capitalized on an odd-man rush. Alexander Legkov carried the puck
into the offensive zone and slid a perfect pass across to Dzianis
Zaichyk, who finished the play to bring Pee Dee within one at 2-1.
The goal was Zaichyk's second of the Finals and once again highlighted the
IceCats' speed in transition. Pee Dee continued to push the pace throughout
the period, forcing the Black Bears into a series of penalties. Binghamton
successfully weathered the storm, killing off four separate minors in the
frame and preserving its lead thanks in large part to the steady play of
Dominik Tmej. One of the biggest moments of the night came late in the
period. With 3:24 remaining, Drew Welsch broke in alone
after Austin D'Orazio made a desperate diving effort to
disrupt the rush. A penalty shot was awarded on the play, giving the
IceCats a golden opportunity to tie the game. But Tmej came up with one of
his biggest saves of the postseason, denying Welsch and keeping Binghamton
in front. That stop loomed large as the Black Bears carried their 2-1 lead
into the second intermission, despite being outshot 12-6 in the period.
Through forty minutes, Binghamton still held a 28-15 advantage in shots on
goal.
With a one-goal lead entering the final twenty minutes, the
Binghamton Black Bears delivered the kind of disciplined,
championship-caliber defensive effort that has defined their postseason
success. Neither team found the back of the net in the third period, but
the Black Bears effectively controlled the pace and limited Pee Dee's
quality scoring opportunities. After the IceCats generated momentum in the
second period, Binghamton tightened up defensively, closing passing lanes,
winning battles along the boards, and preventing Pee Dee from establishing
sustained offensive-zone pressure. An early bench minor for too many men
gave the Black Bears a power-play opportunity just 52 seconds into the
period, and another IceCats penalty midway through the frame provided
Binghamton with additional time on the man advantage. While the Black Bears
were unable to add an insurance goal, they successfully managed the game
and kept Pee Dee from mounting a serious late push. The IceCats did not
pull Breandan Colgan for an extra attacker until just 15
seconds remained, a testament to Binghamton's ability to keep the play away
from dangerous areas in the closing minutes. When the final horn sounded,
the Black Bears had secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory, evening the
Commissioner's Cup Finals at one game apiece as the series now shifts north
to Binghamton. After being heavily outshot in the second period, Binghamton
regained control in the third, finishing the night with a 40-25 advantage
in shots on goal.
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