Weekly Wrap-Up - North Division (Week 2)
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Weekly Wrap-Up - North Division (Week 2)
The Belleville Senators finally found their way into the win column after dropping their first three contests. That first win came in Hershey with a 5-2 decision over the Bears on Saturday, after losing to Syracuse 4-2 on Friday evening.
Belleville would get goals from Chris DiDomenico and Max McCormick on Friday, but were pounded by the Crunch offense, giving up 43 shots. Andrew Hammond would stop 39 of 42 in the loss. In Saturday’s win, the Senators held Hershey to just 19 shots. Ethan Werek scored twice, while DiDomenico, Jack Rodewald, and Gabriel Gagne added one goal apiece. Danny Taylor stopped 17 of 19 in his first win.
In Laval, the Devils made their first visit to the Rocket for a pair of games.
On Friday night, in a wild back and forth affair, Binghamton blew separate 6-3 and 7-5 leads, and would eventually lose 8-7 in overtime. Daniel Carr and Chris Terry would each pick up hat tricks for Laval, with Carr’s third goal the game winner 1:12 into overtime. Byron Froese, Nikita Scherbak, and Matt Taormina each added three assists. John Quenneville registered a hat trick, Tim Kennedy had three assists, and Jacob MacDonald and Michael Kapla picked up their first AHL goals for the Devils.
Binghamton would rebound Saturday afternoon with a 5-1 win, as Scott Wedgewood made his first appearance in nearly 11 months, picking up his first win with 36 saves on 37 shots. Nick Lappin became the fourth player in the two-game series to score a hat trick, while rookie Nathan Bastian added his second goal.
Out in Rochester, the Americans had only one game this week…and it didn’t go so well. They were shut out 2-0 by Utica at home on Friday night. Linus Ullmark would pick up the loss in net, stopping 28 of 30 Comet shots.
Syracuse embarked on their first 3 in 3 weekend of the season, and could only manage 2 out of 6 points, beating Belleville 4-2 on Friday at home before dropping the next two, 3-2 to Utica and 6-1 to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
In Friday’s first win of the season for the Crunch, rookie Dennis Yan scored his first two AHL goals, Cory Conacher added two assists, and Michael Leighton stopped 24 of 26 shots.
In Saturday’s home loss to the Comets, Conacher and rookie Erik Cernak had goals, while Leighton had 16 saves.
Before Sunday’s loss to the Penguins, Tye McGinn served a one game suspension for a check to the head penalty during Friday’s game. It was downhill from there, as rookie Connor Ingram struggled in his second AHL start, giving up 6 goals on 31 Penguin shots. Conacher would pick up the lone Syracuse goal.
Like the Crunch, Toronto had their first 3 in 3 weekend, and went 2-1 as they made their way through New England.
The Marlies would drop a 5-2 decision to Hartford on Friday night, as Kasperi Kapanen and Vincent LoVerde had their first goals of the season in the loss.
Saturday, Toronto would hang on for a 3-2 win over Providence, with Calvin Pickard stopping 33 of 35 shots in the victory and Kapanen scoring for the second straight night.
Finally, Toronto would finish the weekend with a 2-1 victory over the winless Thunderbirds in Springfield. Mason Marchment’s first goal of the season would break a 1-1 tie in the third period, and Kasimir Kaskikuo stopped 26 of 27 shots.
Finally, after an 0-2 start, Utica would do the opposite this week, going 2-0 against division rivals Rochester and Syracuse.
On Friday, Thatcher Demko would stop all 33 Amerks shots, Nikolay Goldobin scored his second of the season, and Reid Boucher had two assists in a 2-0 win.
The Comets then headed into Syracuse on Saturday and defeated the Crunch 3-2. Michael Chaput’s power play goal with 13:22 remaining in regulation would prove to be the difference, and Demko won his second straight start with 24 saves.
North Division Standings through 10/17's games
(PCT = Points Percentage):
- Binghamton, 2-0-1-0, 5 points, (.833 PCT)
- Toronto, 4-1-0-0, 8 points, (.800 PCT)
- Laval, 3-1-0-0, 6 points, (.750 PCT)
- Rochester, 2-1-0-0, 4 points, (.667 PCT)
- Utica, 2-2-0-0, 4 points, (.500 PCT)
- Syracuse, 1-3-1-0, 3 points, (.300 PCT)
- Belleville, 1-3-0-0, 2 points, (.250 PCT)
This Week’s Schedule
Friday, October 20th
Binghamton @ Syracuse, 7 PM Charlotte @ Rochester, 7:05 PM Laval @ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, 7:05 PM Belleville @ Hartford, 7:15 PM
Saturday, October 21st
Charlotte @ Toronto, 4:00 PM Laval @ Bridgeport, 7:00 PM Springfield @ Syracuse, 7:00 PM Lehigh Valley @ Binghamton, 7:05 PM Belleville @ Providence, 7:05 PM Utica @ Rochester, 7:05 PM
Sunday, October 22nd
Laval @ Providence, 3:05 PM Belleville @ Springfield, 3:05 PM Charlotte @ Toronto, 4:00 PM
