The Binghamton Senators took to the ice in Scranton Sunday night hoping to halt its downward spiral, but instead added another loss to its four-game losing streak.
The Senators started the game with a 2-0 lead, but after a game-tying rally in the second period, and the game-winning shot by the Penguins’ Matt Hussey with less than two minutes left in the third period, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton took the 3-2 win.
After a slow start to the season, things seemed to be picking up for the Senators in mid-December when, after a 4-3 win over Providence on Dec. 17, they had 10 wins in 14 games, including an impressive 4-0 victory on Jan. 7 over the Hershey Bears, who are in second in the Eastern Conference.
The Senators’ run ended with a Jan. 20 loss to Scranton, who currenly has the most points in the AHL. Scranton took advantage of a hefty total of 111 minutes of penalty time, which translated into 15 power plays and a 6-2 win.
Binghamton followed with a home loss to Norfolk on Jan. 21, and road losses this past weekend to Albany, Hershey and Scranton.
One of the main reasons the Senators find themselves in 12th place in the Eastern Conference — only five points ahead of the last place Albany River Rats — is their inability to capitalize on power plays. The team also often finds itself shorthanded when it comes to scoring goals as its top scorers, including Denis Hamel, Steve Martins and Brandon Bochenski, are recalled to Ottawa. Hamel is seventh in the league in points with 27 goals and 24 assists and Martins is 19th with 15 goals and 30 assists.
Binghamton travels to Norfolk this weekend to play two games against the Admirals. The Sens return to the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena Wednesday, Feb. 8, to battle the Portland Pirates.