Senators Snatch 3-2 OT Win, Delay Crunch Clinching Playoff Spot

April 1, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Syracuse Crunch News Release

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Chris Wideman netted the overtime game-winner as the Binghamton Senators beat the Syracuse Crunch, 3-2, Wednesday at the War Memorial Arena. With the overtime loss, the Crunch (40-19-9-0) tally a point, but have to wait another night to secure a spot in the Calder Cup Playoffs. Albany held up its end of the scenario by losing in regulation to Manchester, opening the door for Syracuse to clinch with a win.

With 4:12 remaining in overtime, Kristers Gudlevskis was shaken up after stopping a Shane Prince breakaway chance. After lying on the ice for a few moments, he shook himself off and stayed in the game. On the next shot, Wideman beat Gudlevskis from the right wing for the Senators victory, their fifth in eight games vs. Syracuse. The second-year netminder stopped 29 shots in his third overtime loss this year.

"It's frustrating because we want to clinch a playoff spot but the main goal is to keep playing better and better," Crunch captain Mike Angelidis said after the overtime loss. "There were things we did well and things we didn't. We need to capitalize on the power play. We had the opportunity in the third and in OT and we needed to score and didn't."

The Crunch finished 0-for-5 on the man advantage, including the first 1:25 of overtime at 4-on-3. Binghamton finished 1-for-2, scoring its second goal of the game with the man up when Carter Camper scored nine seconds into a David Broll minor. The 26-year-old center flipped a backhander over Kristers Gudlevskis' pad in the crease. Cole Schneider and Alex Grant assisted on the go-ahead goal.

Ryan Martindale answered the Senators tally 1:23 into the third period when he wristed a shot inside the left pipe to beat Chris Driedger, who earned his third win in three AHL games by stopping 39 shots. Martindale has scored five goals in 12 games with Syracuse since being reassigned to the Crunch from San Antonio. Jonathan Marchessault's steal created the play, and his 37th assist increases his team-best scoring total to 58 points. Cody Kunyk contributed his 14th assist.

After Shane Prince opened the scoring 4:05 into the first, smacking home a rebound from the top of the crease, Angelidis answered with a snap from the right-wing circle into the back of the cage, tying the score at one. The captain tied his career-highs of 20 goals and 38 points in 2010-11 with Norfolk with the goal. Justin Courtnall contributed the primary assist, his seventh point in 10 games with the Crunch. Joel Vermin collected the secondary assist, his 20th of the season. With the helper, Vermin has 30 points (10g, 20a) this season.

Jared Nightingale signed a professional try out with the Crunch and made his first appearance in a Syracuse sweater since playing against Binghamton on Apr. 21, 2013. Nightingale played 56 games for the Crunch in the 2012-13 campaign and posted two goals, seven points, and 121 penalty minutes.

The Crunch travel to Connecticut this weekend to face the Hartford Wolf Pack Friday and the Bridgeport Sound Tigers Saturday. Syracuse has eight games remaining this season, four at home and four away.

Syracuse Crunch vs. Binghamton Senators (Scott Thomas)	Syracuse Crunch vs. Binghamton Senators (Scott Thomas)	Syracuse Crunch vs. Binghamton Senators (Scott Thomas)
Syracuse Crunch vs. Binghamton Senators (Scott Thomas)	Syracuse Crunch vs. Binghamton Senators (Scott Thomas)

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American Hockey League Stories from April 1, 2015

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