Jonathan Cheechoo’s shorthanded, unassisted goal in the second period proved to be the game winner as the Binghamton Senators edged the Albany River Rats, 2-1 on Saturday in an American Hockey League game at Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena.
Senators leading-scorer Martin St. Pierre also scored unassisted for Binghamton (30-32-5-3). Left wing Oskar Osala the lone goal for Albany (38-26-3-5).
St. Pierre scored the first period’s only goal at 13:32, intercepting a cross-ice pass in the neutral zone and beating Albany goaltender Mike Morrison to the stick side on the ensuing breakaway.
Binghamton doubled its lead at 5:12 of the second period, when Morrison mishandled a dump-in behind the goal line and Cheechoo scored into the open net. Osala scored at 9:01 of the period, but the Rats would get no closer.
Goalie Chris Holt stopped 30 of 31 shots faced for Binghamton and Morrison finished with 29 stops for Albany.
The Rats and Senators square off again today in Albany at 3.