The Binghamton Black Bears (7-1-0) defeated the
Baton Rouge Kingfish (5-4-1) by the score of 6-2 in
the opening game of a three-game, three-night series between the
first-place teams from the Atlantic and Delta Divisions. After a
scoreless opening period, both teams found the back of the net in
the second period, with Binghamton taking control of the contest by
scoring three unanswered goals to carry a 3-1 lead into the second
intermission.
Baton Rouge opened the scoring on the power
play at the 5:01 mark of the second period as Scott Shorrock
beat Binghamton goaltender Dominik Tmej, with
Kyle Soper and Kodiak Whiteduck
picking up the assists to give the Kingfish a 1-0 advantage. The
Black Bears answered just 1:31 later as Chance Gorman
scored his first goal of the night at 6:32, finishing a play set up
by Nick Cyprian to tie the game at 1-1. Binghamton
took its first lead of the contest just 45 seconds later when
Scott Ramaekers found the back of the net at 7:17,
with Gehrett Sargis and CJ Stubbs earning the
assists. The Black Bears extended their lead at 9:38 as Stubbs
scored his goal of the night, finishing a play from Carter
Jordan and Sargis to make it 3-1.
Binghamton
continued its offensive attack in the third period, scoring three
more goals, including a pair of power-play tallies from Gorman. At
4:26, Gorman scored his second goal of the game with the man
advantage, finishing a play set up by Stubbs and Ramaekers to extend
the Black Bears' lead to 4-1. Just 40 seconds later, Gorman
completed his hat trick at 5:06, once again converting on the power
play with Stubbs and Ramaekers picking up the assists. The hat trick
extended Gorman's power-play goal streak to eight consecutive games,
giving him 10 power-play goals and a league-leading 15 goals through
the first eight games of the season. Binghamton added another
power-play goal at 13:41 as Ramaekers scored his second goal of the
night, assisted by Ivan Bondarenko and Stubbs, to
make it 6-1. Baton Rouge closed out the scoring at 14:56 with a
shorthanded goal from Tyler Williams, assisted by
Jason Brancheau, bringing the final score to 6-2.
Dominik Tmej started in net for Binghamton,
stopping 22 of the 24 shots he faced (.917) to earn his fourth
victory of the season and improve his record to 4-1-0. Noah
Giesbrecht made his first start of the season for Baton
Rouge, allowing five goals on 32 shots before being relieved at
45:06 following Gorman's second power-play goal. Ed Coffey
played the remaining 14:54 in relief, stopping 15 of 16 shots, with
Ramaekers' power-play goal accounting for the only goal allowed
during his time in net. The victory gives Binghamton 14 points
through eight games, while Baton Rouge remains in first place in the
Delta Division with 11 points. The two teams return to the ice
tonight for the second game of the series, with a 7:00 PM puck drop
at Visions Veterans Memorial Arena for Military
Appreciation Night.
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