2011 Calder Cup Finals: Binghamton Senators level Series with Game 2 win over Houston Aeros, 2-1
After the Houston Aeros took a 1-0 lead in the first game of the 2011 Calder Cup Finals, Binghamton Senators countered back as the series returned to Aeros’ hometown for game two, winning it by 2-1 in overtime at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, on Saturday,
May 28th.
The 29th overall Ottawa Senators draft, Jim O’Brien, lifted his team to victory as he capitalised on a delayed penalty at 7:54 of overtime.
Senators managed to take an early lead in the game after Aeros gave a penalty at 1:45 after the initial face off in the neutral zone.
Aeros’ rookie forward, Bobby Butler, fired a clean shot past Houston’s goalie, Matt Hackett, who managed to make 19 saves on 21 shot attempts throughout the game.
Butler is close to making an American Hockey League (AHL) record, currently boasting 12 goals in 19 postseason games. He is only two 2 goals shy to score highest goals by a rookie in a single playoff season.
Houston outshot Binghamton 29-21 but Senators goalie, Robin Lehner, deflected 28 for a near shutout which would have been the first of the series.
Senators superstar rookie, Brian Butler, was penalized at the 2:52 mark, nearly two minutes after his opening goal and was sent out which gave Aeros a chance to recover and tie the match on a power-play opportunity.
Aeros’ rookie, Casey Wellman, fired off his sixth goal of the postseason which would become his third goal in the past three matches.
Intense as the match was, both teams remained in a deadlock until O’Brien scored in overtime to win the match for Senators and put them at par with Houston in the “O” series.
The series has been gathering large crowds at the stadiums where the teams play, as the Aeros saw the biggest attendance in its 11-year history as a team in game two.
Over 9,000 fans attended the match to cheer them.
Game three is scheduled to be played on Wednesday, June 1, at Senators’ home ice.
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