Start the Bus?!?

Port Huron, MI- The Binghamton Black Bears completed their second two-goal comeback of the weekend, defeating the Port Huron Prowlers 6-5 in the shootout on Saturday.

There were no goals scored in the first period, and not a ton of 5-on-5 time as well.  13 penalties were issued in the opening frame. 

Like Friday, the scoring started in the second.  Port Huron, again, got out to a 2-0 lead.  It seemed off, but the Black Bears were about to embark on the craziest game of the season…

Austin D’Orazio started the party for the Black Bears with a 4-on-4 goal at 3:50 into the period.  Jacob Shankar continued is hot streak adding another goal and tying the game at 2-2.  The ice began to tilt back in favor of the Prowlers, scoring the final goal of the frame at 17:33, giving them a 3-2 lead going into the third.  

It seemed like a day where nothing would go as planned, the routine was off and time to improvise and that's exactly what Binghamton did.  Down their head coach, the league leader in points, and one of two five-year players, Black Bears packed a lunch and went to work.

Tyson Kirkby quickly tied the game on the power play at 3-3 under two minutes into the period.  Less than a minute later, Kirkby grabbed his second of the night, again on the power play, giving the Black Bears their first lead of night.  They held that lead for 10ish minutes continuing to kill penalty after penalty after penalty.  The Prowlers knocked in a rebound at 13:56 that tied the game at 4-4 and two and half minutes later, reclaimed their lead with a power play goal.  

Binghamton started searching deep for another goal trying to force overtime and as the clock winded down chants of "Start the bus" rang through the arena.  With 18 seconds left and the arena asking the Black Bears to leave, they decided to win the faceoff, throw a puck towards the net, and Gehrett Sargis finished the rebound all within six seconds!  They chose to stay a little longer... and then some. 

Tied at 5-5 the game went to overtime, with both teams trading chances.  After the five minute extra period, the teams headed for the shootout.  Nick Swain and Mac Jansen both scored in the first two rounds, and Dominik Tmej stopped two of three to secure the victory for the Black Bears in a game they were issued 16 minor penalties.  Binghamton sweeps the weekend, earning 5 of 6 points, and wining on Saturday night 6-5.