BLACK BEARS DOWN THUNDER 8-5

BINGHAMTON - The Binghamton Black Bears defeated the Delaware Thunder on Friday night inside Visions Veterans Memorial Arena, 8-5.

Kyle Powell started the scoring just 4:29 into the game with his fourth goal of the year. Waiting on the side of the crease, Powell tapped in a back-door pass from Nikita Ivashkin for the 1-0 lead. Assists on the play were credited to Ivashkin and Josh Newberg.

Delaware cashed in on a power play to tie the game at one. After the puck changed direction in front of the net, Ryan Swain tapped it into an open net to even the score. The goal was Swain’s second of the year from Ryan Marker and Yianni Liarakos and came 9:49 into regulation. 

Marker gave the Thunder a 2-1 lead at 13:12 of the first period as be sent a hard backhand shot by goaltender McKenzie Chalmers for his 19th of the year. Liarakos and Quentin Roseboom collected the helpers on the go-ahead goal by Marker. 

Binghamton responded with back-to-back goals to take the lead after one period. Tyler Gjurich fired in his 17th goal of the year after great passing from Corey Sherman and Gavin Yates. Gjurich’s goal came at 16:30 of the first period and the game was tied 2-2.

Nikita Ivashkin gave the Black Bears a 3-2 lead with a highlight-reel goal towards the end of the first. Ivashkin walked through the defense and slipped the puck by goaltender Mike Cosentino for the 3-2 lead. The goal was Ivashkin’s 33rd of the year from Tyler Piekarski and the Black Bears took the one-goal lead into the intermission.

In the second period, Newberg gave the Black Bears a 4-2 lead after a great pass from Ivashkin at the 5:26 mark. The goal was Newberg’s 15th of the season from Ivashkin and Geno DeAngelo.

Marker scored his second of the game to pull Delaware back within a goal right after Newberg’s goal. Alex Basey and Timothy Payne were given the assists on Marker’s 20th of the season. The goal decreased Binghamton’s lead to 4-3 and came 6:16 into the second.

Powell scored his second goal of the game with a great wrist shot in the offensive zone. Powell moved down the right side and ripped a shot over the left shoulder of Cosentino to give Binghamton a 5-3 advantage in the middle frame. The goal was Powell’s fifth of the year from Gavin Yates and came at 9:49 of the second.

Emil Strom scored in his Black Bears’ debut to give Binghamton a 6-3 lead just over midway through the second. From the left side, Strom beat Cosentino on the power play with assists from Gavin Yates and Kyle Powell at 11:45 of period two.

Ivashkin finished out the scoring in the second period with his second of the night and 34th of the year and the Black Bears took a 7-3 lead into the third.

Strom added a goal in the third period as the Black Bears came away with the 8-5 win.

The Black Bears return home tomorrow against Danbury inside Visions Veterans Memorial Arena at 7 p.m. It’s Teacher Appreciation Night and all teachers can get special $8 tickets to the game. Also, live music and happy hour drink specials from 5:30 p.m. until puck drop! Get your tickets at www.binghamtonblackbears.com/tickets   

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.