Black Bears Blast IceCats in GM3

BINGHAMTON- The Binghamton Black Bears defeated the Pee Dee IceCats 8-1 on Friday night.  The Black Bears take a 2-1 series lead and can clinch their third-straight title on Saturday. 

For the second-straight game in the series, Binghamton was on the board first.  Pee Dee was on the opening power play and it was Binghamton who capitalized.  Zac Sirota scored shorthanded and gave the Black Bears an early 1-0 lead.  Binghamton kept the pressure up but Pee Dee was able to tie the game at 1-1 with a late goal. 

Fast forward into the second period, the Black Bears broke the dam, and they never looked back.  Binghamton scored five goals in the second period, a franchise record for goals in a period during the postseason.  It started 49 seconds in with Austin D’Orazio going coast-to-coast, then followed up by Gehrett Sargis on the power play.  Kyle Stephan scored his first of the postseason making it 4-1, then Sargis added another power play goal pushing the lead to 5-1.  Gavin Yates was able to get the monkey off his back at 17:52, securing his first of the playoffs, and Binghamton led 6-1 after two periods. 

In the third, CJ Stubbs found the back of the net for the first time in the series, as well as Tyson Kirkby doing the same.  The Binghamton defense put a strangle on the IceCats, only allowing two shots on goal in the final period.  Binghamton defends home ice 8-1 and takes a 2-1 series lead on Pee Dee.