ALBANY, N.Y. – Trailing 2-0 in the third period, Phil Varone pulled the Binghamton Senators back in the game with his fifth of the year but the Albany Devils added an insurance goal and held on for a 3-1 victory on Sunday afternoon at Times Union Center.
It took 3:49 for the Devils to take a 1-0 advantage courtesy of Kevin Rooney’s sixth of the year. Casey Bailey kicked the puck behind the net that was intercepted by Brian Gibbons and played to the front of net for Petr Straka. The initial chance by Straka was denied by Matt O’Connor but Rooney tapped in the loose puck for the early lead.
Albany took advantage of some open ice four-on-four hockey to take a two-goal lead. From the left point, Brandon Gormley fired a slap pass that Blake Pietila tapped by the left leg pad of O’Connor with 2:36 to go. Assists on Pietila’s seventh of the season were credited to Gormley and Joe Blandisi. Binghamton trailed 2-0 heading into the third period.
Varone scored to get the B-Sens back within a goal in the final period of regulation. Varone knocked the puck out of the air and fired a shot from the bottom of the left circle that sailed over the shoulder of Ken Appleby for his fifth of the year. Varone’s tally came at 12:31 and was assisted by Kyle Flanagan and Max McCormick.
The Devils added a goal after a video review at 15:20 of the final frame. Joe Blandisi wrapped the puck around that was stopped by O’Connor’s leg pad. The puck deflected back to his right leg pad and was deemed a goal after a review for a 3-1 Albany lead. O’Connor stopped 26 in the loss and Appleby denied 24 for the win.
The Senators stay on the road Wednesday night in Albany at 7:00 p.m. Fans can tune in on U.S. Country 96.9 FM, 680 AM, iHeartRadio’s website and mobile app, and AHL Live.
