BINGHAMTON -- The Binghamton Senators were one goal shy of completing an unlikely third-period comeback Saturday night when defenseman Erik Karlsson was hauled down in the neutral zone as he brought the puck up ice.
The whistle blew. The door to the visitor's penalty box opened. Binghamton called time out. And then with 2 minutes, 36 seconds left, the B-Sens took the ice for a power play -- precisely the type of pivotal moment they seemed to fall flat in during much of October.
Not this time, though.
With 50.8 seconds left, and Binghamton goaltender Mike Brodeur on the bench for an extra skater, Karlsson swung a pass across the ice to fellow rookie Craig Schira, who buried a one-timer from beyond the left-wing circle.
The game was tied. The power play had come through -- as it's done more and more of late.
Consider: Through their first nine games this season, the B-Sens went a paltry 3-for-40 on the power play. In the eight games since, they are 9-for-34, including an impressive 7-for-18 over their last four.
Or, just as telling: Nineteen days ago, Binghamton's power play ranked dead-last in the 29-team American Hockey League. Entering Tuesday night's games, it was 12th.
"It's big. It can win or lose you games," right wing Ryan Keller said. "Like the game in Ottawa for example. We lose 1-0. If our power play gets us one or two there, it's a different game. And that's been the difference in some of the games lately too. I don't know how many we had against Manchester (on Saturday), but that helps us get back into a game."
On Tuesday morning, before boarding a bus to Connecticut for Wednesday night's game in Hartford, B-Sens players and coaches discussed reasons behind the power-play improvements, from the arrival of Karlsson, to tweaks in the set-up, from ironing out individual roles -- like that of standout center Martin St. Pierre -- to simply, more practice time together under a new head coach.
"We've changed up our system a little bit, and we've got guys in places where they're comfortable," Keller said. "And I think we're letting Marty have a little bit more freedom too -- kind of to keep the puck, and see things and make plays. That's what he's good at. And then obviously it doesn't hurt having Karlsson on the back end too. He's another offensive player that can handle the puck and see the ice really well."
Asked to talk more about the changes to St. Pierre's role, Keller added: "Before I think the system maybe had him standing still, where now he's got freedom to go up and down (the boards), and kind of do what he feels is going to be right, and see the play. So that's helped a lot."
Likewise, the power-play improvements have coincided with Karlsson's arrival from Ottawa.
The 15th overall pick in the 2008 draft, Karlsson has been on the ice for seven of Binghamton's nine power-play goals since being assigned eight games ago. Of the team's last four power-play scores, he has assisted on three of them.
"Definitely, he's been a big help, controlling the puck back there, making the right decisions with the puck and where to place it," B-Sens coach Don Nachbaur said. "And obviously his shot's a real asset."
Also key: The scoring has been widely distributed. Six players -- St. Pierre, Keller, Schira, Zack Smith, Kaspars Daugavins and Derek Smith (two goals) -- have accounted for Binghamton's seven power-play goals over the last four games.
Bearing down on scoring opportunities, creating second and third chances, battling for loose pucks, and being able to reset the power play have also been keys, St. Pierre said.
And to listen to Nachbaur, perhaps the recent success is something of a market correction as well.
"We weren't as bad as the numbers early in the season," he said. "No puck luck, and we're getting luck now, a little luck to our game. And obviously we're a little more structured because of the practice time. But I think the bottom line is that goals are scored because of the decisions that are being made, and obviously we're getting a little lucky. We're getting pucks to the front of the net area, and we're scoring."
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Karlsson's addition benefits B-Sens' power play | pressconnects.com | Press & Sun-Bulletin
Karlsson's addition benefits B-Sens' power play
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