The only thing that the Hershey Bears needed to get back in the win column after a disappointing loss in their last outing against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, was a little “R and R”; no, not rest and relaxation, but rest and redemption.
Afforded a week of practice time and an outstanding performance from goaltender Daren Machesney, who made 29 saves, the Bears dealt the Binghamton Senators their first regulation loss of the season on Saturday at Giant Center, by a score of 3-2.
Dean Arsene and Sami Lepisto, who each committed a first period turnover that led to a goal in the previous game, contributed to the redemption effort by providing key blocks that factored heavily into the victory.
Dominant from the opening face-off, Hershey took a 1-0 lead at 2:16 on an unassisted power play goal by Keith Aucoin. Aucoin’s tally, while on the manpower advantage, started with some responsible defensive work. “They had a 2-on-1 and I was back checking and the guy missed the net, and I happened to pick up the puck with speed,” he said. “I saw their defense was changing and flat-footed, so I just got around him. I waited as long as I could to pass to Giroux, and I couldn’t find him, so at the last second I put over his shoulder.”
Enjoying a sizable territorial advantage and out shooting the Senators 20-3, Hershey was only able to add one other goal after the Aucoin strike, rookie Oskar Osala’s third goal of the season at 13:28, departing the period with a 2-0 lead.
The second period, in which no goals were scored, featured some sparkling work by Machesney, as well as some controversy. Machesney’s glitter came in the form of the foiling of Josh Hennessy’s shorthanded bid at 8:06. The Bears net minder, who quickly sealed the opening, stifled Hennessy’s five-hole attempt. The controversy occurred late in the period, when referee, Francis Charron, waved off an apparent Senators goal. Machesney, who had the best seat in the house, offered his insight. “I was late to get to the rebound and the puck came off the boards; I just threw everything at the puck and I knocked the net off,“ he said. “I think the puck came up with me. We don’t have instant replay in this league and it’s up to the ref’s discretion, and I think he made the right call.”
Alexandre Giroux’s seventh goal of the season gave Hershey a 3-0 lead at 5:57 of the third period, and it looked like the Chocolate and White would sail to an easy victory. However, due largely in part to Hershey’s power play struggles earlier in the game, Binghamton clawed their way back into the game, netting a 5-on-3 power play goal by Brendan Bell at 12:45. A minute after the Bell marker, with Binghamton still on the power play, Machesney twice denied Ilya Zubov from point-blank range.
Matt Carkner’s goal at 18:41 of the third period, made it 3-2, but Binghamton was unable to get the equalizer by Machesney to force overtime.
It’s been said that a goalie’s biggest asset is his ability to forget his last surrendered goal. Machesney, commenting after the game, showed that even though he hasn’t quite mastered that ability, he has made progress. “Any time you have a rough outing, you have to bounce back; that makes you a professional,” he said. “Nobody in the rink felt worse than I did on Sunday night. It took the week to forget about it. Tonight’s over and I have to worry about tomorrow.”