HOUSTON 2, BINGHAMTON 1
Houston scored once apiece in the first and second periods and hung on in the third for a 2-1 road win over Binghamton on Wednesday in Game 3 of the 2011 Calder Cup Finals, taking a 2-1 lead in the best-of-7 series.
Aeros captain Jon DiSalvatore put his club on the board just 1:08 after the opening face-off when he banged home his own rebound for his sixth goal of the postseason, with rookie Jared Spurgeon and Patrick O’Sullivan picking up assists.
Defenseman Nate Prosser extended the lead to 2-0 at 12:51 of the second period, as he found a loose puck and buried it past Senators goaltender Robin Lehner for his second goal of the postseason. DiSalvatore and O’Sullivan assisted on Prosser’s goal, which turned out to be the game-winner.
The Senators cut their deficit in half only 2:52 into the third frame, as captain Ryan Keller cashed in on a power play for his ninth playoff marker. Zack Smith and defenseman Andre Benoit picked up assists on the play.
But Binghamton was unable to solve Houston goaltender Matt Hackett again the rest of the way. Hackett finished with 28 saves on 29 shots in net, and the rookie improved to 14-7 in 21 postseason appearances.
The Senators, who piled up 21 goals in their four-game sweep of Charlotte in the Eastern Conference Finals, have managed to score only four times through the first three games of this series.
Binghamton, which is now just 4-5 on home ice during these playoffs, will look to bounce back when Game 4 goes on Friday night at the Broome County Arena. Game 5 is also in Binghamton on Saturday.
2011 Calder Cup Finals – Series “O” (best-of-7)
W2-Houston Aeros vs. E5-Binghamton Senators
Game 1 – Fri., May 27 – HOUSTON 3, Binghamton 1
Game 2 – Sat., May 28 – Binghamton 2, HOUSTON 1 (OT)
Game 3 – Wed., June 1 – Houston 2, BINGHAMTON 1
Game 4 – Fri., June 3 – Houston at Binghamton, 7:05
Game 5 – Sat., June 4 – Houston at Binghamton, 7:05
*Game 6 – Tue., June 7 – Binghamton at Houston, 8:05
*Game 7 – Thu., June 9 – Binghamton at Houston, 8:05
