ROCHESTER, NY – The Binghamton Senators scored three times in the opening period and rode a 38-save effort from goaltender Chris Driedger to defeat the Rochester Americans by a 3-1 count Friday at The Blue Cross Arena. The loss drops the Amerks 
record to 33-35-2-1 with only five games remaining in the regular season.
Rookie forward Jean Dupuy scored the lone goal for Rochester with Nick Baptiste and newcomer Brendan Guhle providing the assists. Guhle, reassigned to Rochester earlier in the week from the Prince Albert Raiders, was one of two Amerks making their pro debuts tonight as forward Giorgio Estephan also saw time in his first pro game after completing his fourth season in the Western Hockey League with the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Linus Ullmark made 23 saves in the loss for Rochester.
Binghamton was led by two points each from Danny Hobbs (1+1) and Jerome Leduc (1+1) while three other former Amerks recorded points in the win for the Senators, including Nick Tuzzolino (1+0), Phil Varone (0+1) and Jason Akeson (0+1).
Binghamton stormed out to a 3-0 lead through the first 11:55 of the contest, beginning just 2:42 in with the Senators capitalizing on a defensive zone turnover. An outlet pass intended for Justin Bailey got away from the rookie forward and was kept in by a long range shot from Leduc that was tipped by Hobbs at the left edge of the crease.
The Senators increased their lead to a pair just beyond the midway point as all three former Amerks factored in on Leduc’s 11th goal of the season. Akeson sprung Varone free up the left wing boards with a stretch pass from in-between both team’s bluelines to start the initial rush. Varone caught up to it just inside the Rochester zone and skated hard to the net before sending a cross-ice feed over to a streaking Leduc, who one-touched the offering to the top of the net.
Binghamton added its third goal of the period just 1:56 later when Tuzzolino, another former Amerk, wristed a shot from center point that made its way through traffic and past a screened Ullmark. The Senators carried the lead into the intermission despite being outshot 17-11 by the Amerks.
While scoring chances were hard to come by in the first period, Rochester began the second with three prime opportunities only to be turned away by the post each time. Colby Robak had perhaps the best chance for the Amerks just minutes into the middle frame when he sped off on a shorthanded breakaway seconds before being denied by the left post. Baptiste then hit the crossbar off a 2-on-1 fast break and Matt Ellis completed the all-iron hat trick when he rang his shot squarely off the right post.
The Amerks finally solved Driedger with 5:47 remaining in the third period. With the puck on the far left wing boards, Guhle centered a pass to Dupuy, who controlled briefly before sliding a backhander inside the right post from his knees to make it a 3-1 game.
Rochester looked as if to come within a goal after Eric Cornel thought he beat Driedger with 2:17 remaining, but video review proved otherwise and the Senators held on for the win.
With Amerks game report
