Phantoms at Binghamton Senators, 3-25-09: Second Period

Looks like everyone is out in force on our bench to start the second period, so this is good. We need to be out in force on the ice to start this frame. We ended the first period with the Sens on a surge, and we don't need to start this one the way we ended the previous one.

SCOOORE -- Kalinski, from a great pass by Nodl! Good start, guys, it's 56 seconds into the period and we are up 2-0. :)

That goal really did quiet the fans down a lot. But we need to get out of our zone now... neither team is setting up all that well in the other team's end, but I don't like the number of attempts that the Sens are making to get something going in front of Munroe.

Here goes an interference call against Binghamton. Time for us to draw blood again. Ross, Kane, Sirianni are out with Syvret and I can't see who the other Dman is.

The next line out is Matsumoto, Maroon, Laliberte, with Curry, and this flipping cybercast picture is getting all jumpy. Not only can't I see who the other defenseman is, but I feel like I'm watching a slideshow. Bingo killed the penalty but MAROOOOON scored right after the teams returned to even strength!  He was all alone in front of Binghamton's net, battling three Senators for the puck, and he buried an unassisted goal. FANTASTIC job!

I don't want to jinx this game, but I am pleasantly surprised at the lack of penalty calls we have had so far. I thought after that early holding call that it was going to be a game where guys were getting whistled down for looking at one another the wrong way. But now it seems like the ref wants to let the players decide the outcome of the game. May it stay that way, especially since the stakes in this contest are about as high as it gets for a regular season game. Maybe the ref is going into HIS version of a playoff mode where the teams are allowed to actually play. We can only hope.

With just over five minutes left in the period, Kempe made an attempt to accrue his first pro goal, going after a loose puck in front of the Binghamton net. However, he was thoroughly outnumbered by Senators, who managed to get the puck out of harm's way.

Nice defensive move by Matsumoto to pluck the puck out of a forest of legs and skates in front of Munroe and start skating the puck up ice. Binghamton was duelling with us for the puck on our doorstep, so it was good to see him not only get control, but take the disk entirely out of harm's way.

The score at the end of the second period remains 3-0, Phantoms. We will have to be ready for the Senators to come out of the gate like GANGBUSTERS in the third period. If we hold them off, especially in the first half or so of the frame, we will do ourselves a huge favor.