Inverse Colors, Same Result

BINGHAMTON — The Binghamton Black Bears and Pee Dee IceCats met for the first time ever inside Visions Veterans Memorial Arena. The game was tightly contested through two periods, but in the third, the home team was able to pull away.

The opening period featured just one goal, which came in the first five minutes. Dominiks Marcinkevics roofed a rebound in tight past Dominik Tmej to give Pee Dee its first lead of the night. The score would hold as the first period ended with the IceCats leading 1–0.

The second period was where the game began to open up, as the Black Bears struck early. Ivan Bondarenko tied the game with a deceptive shot from the boards that beat IceCats netminder Parker Rutherford. Pee Dee responded quickly, as Houston Wilson finished off an odd-man rush to restore the IceCats’ one-goal lead. The Black Bears answered once again when Jacob Shankar scored in his first game back from injury. Scott Ramaekers then gave Binghamton its first lead of the night, wiring a shot into the top shelf. The second period seemed destined to end with the Black Bears ahead by one, but in the final minute Marcinkevics scored his second goal of the game, sending the teams into the final period tied 3–3.

The third period belonged to the Black Bears, as the home team scored three times in the final frame. The first came on the power play, with Mac Jansen finishing off an odd-man rush to restore Binghamton’s lead. The second also came with the man advantage, as Dan Stone wired a shot from the hash marks to give the Black Bears the first two-goal lead of the game. C.J. Stubbs capped off the scoring with an empty-net tally, as Binghamton secured a 6–3 victory.

Dominik Tmej was stellar once again, stopping 22 of the 25 shots he faced. Parker Rutherford was strong on the other side as well, making 34 saves on 39 shots in the loss. The Black Bears return to action tomorrow night as they face the Pee Dee IceCats once again at home.