BINGHAMTON FALLS SHORT TO DANBURY, 5-3

by Rob Lippolis

BINGHAMTON – The Binghamton Black Bears were unable to come back in the third period in a 5-3 loss to visiting Danbury on Friday night inside Visions Veterans Memorial Arena.

Danbury scored the lone goal of the first period to take a 1-0 lead. Aaron Atwell hit Dustin Jesseau with a breakaway pass at the far blue line and he sent the puck under the pads of goaltender Owen Liskiewicz. The goal came 15:52 into the first period with assists from Atwell and Zachary Lazzaro and Danbury led after one period of play. 

Binghamton scored twice in the second period to take a 2-1 lead. Gavin Yates fired a wrist shot over the left shoulder of goaltender Peter Di Salvo to tie the game up at one. The goal was Yates’ 14th of the year with assists from Tyler Gjurich and Tyson Kirkby and came at 7:04 of the second.

Tyson Kirkby gave the Black Bears a 2-1 lead on the power play at 13:07 of the middle frame. Gavin Yates and Nikita Ivashkin set up Kirkby who beat Di Salvo on the glove side for his sixth of the season and Binghamton took its first lead of the night. 

Danbury tied the game up at one with a shorthanded goal later in the second. Nick Mangone went around Kyle Powell and slid the puck under the pads of Owen Liskiewicz for his first goal of the season. Mangone’s goal was unassisted and came at 17:05 of the second and the game was tied 2-2 to start the third.

Brett Jackson sent a wrist shot on net that squeaked through the arm of Owen Liskiewicz to give Danbury a 3-2 lead early in the third. Phil Bronner collected the lone assist on Jackson’s go-ahead goal at 3:04 of the final period.

Just over one minute later, Dustin Jesseau fired a shot into the net from the hash marks to give Danbury a 4-2 lead. The goal was his second of the night, unassisted, and came at 4:06 of the third period.

Tyler Gjurich scored to pull the Black Bears back within one later in the period. Nikita Ivashkin attempted a wraparound and Gjurich tapped it in for his 49th of the year and Binghamton trailed 4-3. Ivashkin and Cam Yarwood were given the assists and the goal came at 15:43 with the net empty. 

Tobias Odjick capped off the win with the empty-net goal in the 5-3 win. 

The Black Bears are back home next Friday, April 15 and Saturday, April 16 against Carolina. Friday, the first 1,500 fans receive a free cowbell presented by United Methodist Homes. Saturday is Broome Dusters Throwback Night with special Dusters-themed jerseys. Also, it’s Downtown Doubleheader with the Binghamton Rumble Ponies. For $20, fans can get a ticket to their game at 1:05 p.m. and the Black Bears game at 6 p.m. Tickets are available now at www.binghamtonblackbears.com/tickets. 

Playoff hockey is returning to Binghamton! Secure your seats and get a merchandise gift card. Season ticket holders will also receive a special playoff gift as well. For more information, Black Bears fans can visit https://www.binghamtonblackbears.com/playoffs.

Stay current with the latest team news by visiting www.binghamtonblackbears.com, by calling 607-722-7367, or visiting the front office on the third floor of the Visions Veterans Memorial Arena. Follow the Black Bears all year long on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.