There's something about playing in Binghamton for the WBS Penguins. They have now lost all four meetings in New York this season and are 0-7 in their last seven visits dating back to last season. The last time they won in Binghamton was October 16th, 2009.
The turning point of this game occurred in the first period when the Penguins were awarded 1:10 of 5 on 3 power play time. They didn't take advantage of that opportunity, or any offensive chances for that matter. The defense played well in the first, not allowing the Senators a shot on goal in the first 15 minutes of the game.
After a slow start by the Senators, they seemed to find their rhythm in the last 40 minutes. Andre Benoit scored on the power play 14:18 into the middle frame. Less than three minutes later Roman Wick absolutely undressed Corey Potter with a series of moves and put a puck between Curry's pads. Jim O'Brien got credit for the goal because the puck was slowly dribbling in and he wanted to make sure it counted.
Another goal early in the third period and that's all she wrote for the Pens tonight. Unfortunately the bad game turned to worse when Steve Wagner went off after receiving what looked like a slash from Binghamton goalie Robin Lehner in the third period. The two collided while chasing down a puck behind the net. I was in attendance at tonight's game and I think Wagner might have broken his arm. He was holding his arm and was really showing his pain, first making it to the bench and then immediately to the dressing room with the team's trainer. Wagner was slow to get up earlier in the game as well.
He was seen leaving after the game with his hurt arm not in the sleeve of his coat and reports from Penguins beat writer Jonathan Bombulie via head coach John Hynes is that Wagner is out for the rest of the weekend and probably Wednesday too.
I know a lot of fans are hard on Wagner for his defensive lapses but losing him is a big hit to this defensive core. Andrew Hutchinson hasn't played well since returning from the knee injury earlier this season. Jason DeSantis and Alex Grant are ECHL guys and they will likely be the third pairing the rest of the weekend with recently signed Joe Rogalski as a healthy scratch.
The Pens play in Adirondack tomorrow night against the Phantoms before finishing the road trip with a Sunday game in Hershey. I'll get the game preview up tomorrow afternoon.
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