Binghamton Senators

The Rochester Americans lost to the Binghamton Senators on Sunday night, final score was 3-1.  The Amerks opened the season with three games in three nights and lost all three.  They go on the road to play the Manitoba Moose next weekend, October 17 and 18th.

The Amerks lone goal was scored when Tanner Glass tipped in a shot from the point by Peter Aston at 15:01 of the third period.

The much anticipated Shawn Matthias was again not very visible.  Expectations are high on him so the less he produces the more fans are going to wonder.  One factor in tonights game could have been that we were often on the penalty kill or power play, a role he may not be intended for.

Chris Beckford-Tseu gets another loss in his column, but he played well.  The first two Binghamton goals were scored after some superb passing on a power play, and the third by bad defensive coverage.  He needs to be given time before anyone gets ready to throw in the towel on him.  More than anything our young defense needs some work to be able to help him out.

It was another game (and familiar story) of a young team that is working to find that chemisty needed in a team sport.  They played an older and talented Binghamton Senators.

The Amerks outshot the Senators 34-18, dominated with shots in the 2nd and 3rd periods, but another familiar story took place, they could not get the puck in the net.  Other teams are able to score on us with less shots, only time will tell if that’s due to goaltending or the lack of quality shots.

Stefan Meyer didn’t play, his groin injury will probably have him off the ice for a while.

Keaton Ellerby is expected to be in the lineup next weekend in Manitoba.

AHL Game Summary

 (LGA)

Brian Elliott made 37 saves to get a shutout against the Amerks tonight.

The Senators scored three power play goals in their 4-1 victory over the depleted Amerks.

The Amerks totaled 56 penalty minutes during tonight’s game including two ten minute game misconducts, one against Mark Mancari and one against Mike Funk.

At one point, the Amerks had four men in the penalty box with no room left to spare.

The fact that the Amerks are missing many players due to call-ups and injuries is starting to take a major toll on the way the team is playing. They looked defeated before the game even started.

With the call-up of Marc-Andre Gragnani, the Amerks are now missing eight players. 

Tanner Glass, Drew Larman, and Rob Globke are in Florida playing for the Panthers. 

Clarke MacArthur, Patrick Kaleta, and Marco Gragnani are playing for the Buffalo Sabres.

Mike Card is still getting headaches from his concussion while Kenndal McArdle is nursing a broken foot for the next few weeks.

Adam Dennis also had his 9th straight start in goal tonight.

Tyler Plante is trying to make an injured shoulder get better fast enough to make a difference for the team, but if it doesn’t take to treatment soon he will have to have surgery on it.

This would bring up David Shantz again from the Florida Everblades.

Dennis is beginning to show that he can’t do it all alone and will need a break soon.

In tonight’s game, Peter Aston dropped the gloves with Danny Bois in the second period. Peter was dropped and hit his head on the ice. He had a pretty good gash, leaving the game and never returning.

The second period was a rough one for both teams. There were 19 penalties called adding up to 66 minutes in the penalty box for both teams.

Goals for the Binghamton Senators were scored by Shawn Weller (2:00 in the 1st), Denis Hamel (19:16 in the 1st [PP Goal]), Justin Mapletoft (14:02 in the 2nd [PP Goal]), and Matt Kinch (3:22 in the 3rd [PP Goal]).

There seemed to be a lot of suspect calls made against the Amerks tonight and many that were not called against the Senators that should have been.

This led to the animosity on the ice.

The next time the Amerks play the Senators (Saturday, March 15th in Binghamton), fans should expect this mentality to carry over.

It will most likely be another very physical game as the Amerks seek their first win of the season against the Senators. 

The Amerks are home again on Sunday against the Houston Aeros. This is the first of two meeting for the two teams this season.

The puck drops at 6:05 PM.

The Aeros are 28-22-2-3 on the season while the Amerks are still trying to get twenty wins this season.  They sit at 17-34-4-4.

Coach Randy Cunneyworth is still trying for his 300th win as the Amerks’ head coach. 

Will Sunday be the night? Or will the ailing Amerks not have enough players to get a good game going?