Konopka’s hat trick lifts Crunch over B-Sens in overtime


Sunday’s Boxscores

SYRACUSE 4, BINGHAMTON 3 (OT)
Zenon Konopka capped off his first hat trick of the season by scoring a power play goal at 2:08 of overtime, propelling Syracuse to a 4-3 win over Binghamton on Sunday at the Onondaga County War Memorial.

Adam Pineault also tallied a goal for the Crunch, who won their third straight game and improved to 12-1-0-4 in their last 17 contests.

Konopka scored once each in the first and third periods before notching the game-winner in overtime. He now has 21 goals on the campaign (21-24-45).

Niko Dimitrakos, Jim McKenzie, and Josh Hennessy scored in regulation for the Senators. Hennessy’s power play goal at 18:09 of the third period tied the game and sent it to the extra session.

Crunch goaltender Dan LaCosta earned the victory with 28 saves on 31 shots. Jeff Glass stopped 37 shots in a losing effort for Binghamton, which had its three-game winning streak snapped.


SAN ANTONIO 3, SPRINGFIELD 2
Chris Durno’s power play goal with 52 seconds left in regulation gave San Antonio a 3-2 road win over Springfield at the MassMutual Center.

After a scoreless first period, the Falcons took a 2-0 lead in the middle stanza on goals by Rob Schremp and Stephane Goulet.

But the Rampage came right back, as Mike Zigomanis and Adam Keefe scored just 1:58 apart to make it a 2-2 game entering the third period.

Durno’s game-winner was his 20th goal of the season and was assisted by David Spina and Brendan Bell. It came on San Antonio’s seventh power play, as the teams combined for 17 power plays in the game.

Rampage goaltender Josh Tordjman picked up the win with 23 saves. San Antonio finished an even 2-2-0-0 on its trip to New England.


MANCHESTER 1, LOWELL 0
Jonathan Quick made 27 saves for his first career AHL shutout as Manchester eked out a 1-0 road win over Lowell at the Tsongas Arena.

Troy Milam scored the game’s only goal 1:52 into the third period for the Monarchs, who entered the contest just 1-6-0-1 against the Devils this season.

The game featured only one penalty, a hooking minor to Manchester’s Brian Boyle late in the first period.

With the victory, coupled with Springfield’s loss to San Antonio, the Monarchs pulled within one point of the Falcons for the Atlantic Division’s fourth and final playoff spot. The two teams square off in Springfield on Wednesday.


HARTFORD 4, WORCESTER 1
Hartford continued its dominance of Worcester this season with a 4-1 victory over the host Sharks on Sunday at the DCU Center.

Jordan Owens netted a pair of goals for the Wolf Pack, while Mike Ouellette and Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau also lit the lamp.

Hartford goaltender Miika Wiikman stopped 39 of 40 shots in the winning effort. The Wolf Pack moved to 7-0-0-0 against the Sharks this season, and Worcester has not led at any point in any game.

Brad Staubitz scored for Worcester in the second period, at the time making it a 2-1 game.


WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON 2, PROVIDENCE 1 (SO)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton went 3-for-3 in the shootout to come away with a 2-1 road victory over Providence at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center.

Mark Letestu, Tim Brent, and Jean-Michel Daoust all beat Providence goaltender Tuukka Rask in the shootout, giving the Penguins their eighth straight win. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton already has a nine-game winning streak this season.

After a scoreless first 40 minutes, the teams traded third-period goals. Nathan Smith scored for the Penguins at 13:34, but Providence captain Nate Thompson responded just 41 seconds later.

Penguins goaltender David Brown made 24 saves through the first 65 minutes and stopped three of four in the shootout. Brett Skinner was the only Bruin to tally a shootout marker.


TORONTO 3, GRAND RAPIDS 2
Peter Tsimikalis scored at 11:13 of the third period to snap a 2-2 tie and give Toronto a 3-2 win over visiting Grand Rapids at Ricoh Coliseum.

The teams traded goals throughout the game, with the Marlies scoring first each time. Alex Foster put Toronto on top 1-0 in the second period, a lead that would hold entering the final stanza.

Griffins forward Tyler Redenbach scored his first AHL goal of the season at 4:27 of the third, tying the game at 1-1.

Toronto’s Brent Aubin and Grand Rapids’ Jamie Tardif then traded goals, setting the stage for Tsimikalis’ game-winner.

Marlies goaltender Scott Clemmensen made 27 saves for his second win in as many days.


MANITOBA 3, HERSHEY 1
Jason Jaffray posted a goal and an assist as Manitoba won its sixth straight, a 3-1 decision over Hershey at the Giant Center.

Jannik Hansen and Colby Genoway also scored for the Moose, who posted their second consecutive win over the Bears and finished a perfect 5-0-0-0 on a five-game road trip.

Moose goaltender Cory Schneider stopped 30 of 31 shots and won his eighth straight start.

Hershey received its lone goal from Scott Barney. The Bears dropped to 2-8-0-0 in their last 10 games.


PHILADELPHIA 2, PORTLAND 1
Ryan Potulny broke a 1-1 tie at 13:45 of the third period to give Philadelphia a 2-1 win over Portland at the Wachovia Spectrum.

The victory allowed first-place Philadelphia to maintain its two-point lead over Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in the East Division.

Portland’s Simon Ferguson scored in the first period to put the Pirates on top, but Kyle Greentree answered for the Phantoms in the second period.

Philadelphia goaltender Martin Houle made 24 saves for his first AHL victory of the season.


MILWAUKEE 5, PEORIA 2
Josh Langfeld scored twice, and Mike Santorelli and Cal O’Reilly each notched three points (1-2-3) as Milwaukee rolled on with a 5-2 win over visiting Peoria at the Bradley Center.

Antti Pihlstrom also lit the lamp and goaltender Pekka Rinne made 30 saves for the Admirals, who captured their sixth straight victory.

Four of Milwaukee’s five goals came on the power play, as the Admirals finished 4-for-7 on the man-advantage.

Mike Glumac and Trent Whitfield scored in the losing effort for Peoria, which is 5-13-0-1 in its last 19 games.