GAME 11 PREVIEW: BATON ROUGE KINGFISH AT BINGHAMTON BLACK BEARS

KINGFISH AIM TO BREAK THREE-GAME SKID

The Baton Rouge Kingfish look to snap their three-game winless streak tonight against the Binghamton Black Bears at Visions Veterans Memorial Arena.

It's the second game of a three-in-three weekend series between the two teams. The Kingfish fell to the Black Bears, 6-2, last night in the series opener.   

Baton Rouge is now 2-2-1 on its seven-game road trip. 

BROADCAST COVERAGE

Kingfish Pregame at 5:45 p.m.

Streaming: Free-to-watch video on YouTube at
www.youtube.com/@BatonRougeKingfish 

LAST TIME OUT

The Kingfish allowed six goals in the final two periods en route to their most lopsided loss of the season, 6-2, last night against the Binghamton Black Bears at Visions Veterans Memorial Arena.

The game was scoreless after 20 minutes thanks to a terrific first period from Noah Giesbrecht. In his first start of the season, Giesbrecht parried all 12 shots he faced in the opening frame.

Scott Shorrock opened the scoring for Baton Rouge on the powerplay five minutes into the second period. From there, however, Binghamton dominated the game.

The Black Bears scored three times in just over three minutes at 6:32, 7:17 and 9:38, respectively, to take a two-goal lead, 3-1, into the second intermission. 

Binghamton buried three powerplay goals in the third period to extend its lead to 6-1. 

Tyler Williams tapped in a pass from Jason Brancheau with five minutes to play to make the final score, 6-2, more respectable.  

The Kingfish are now winless in three consecutive games for the first time this season.

SHOTS ON GOAL WOES

In last night's loss, 6-2, to the Black Bears, the Kingfish were held to a season-low 24 shots on goal. Baton Rouge also surrendered a season-high 48 shots on target and has allowed over 40 shots in back-to-back games.

Offensively, the Kingfish have now recorded fewer than 30 shots in three of their last four games. After averaging 42 shots per game through the first five contests, Baton Rouge has posted just 30 shots, on average, in its last five games. 

Defensively, the Kingfish kept their opponents to 28 shots per game in the first five matches of the season. However, in the last five games, opposing teams are averaging 38 shots per night.    

SHORTHANDED STRIKE

Tyler Williams notched a shorthanded goal in the latter stages of the third period last night, the third shorthanded tally of his career. 

As a team, the Kingfish have scored shorthanded three times this season, tied for second in the FPHL with Fresno, Twin City and Danbury.

Williams and Shorrock, who also scored last night, are tied for third on the club with five goals apiece.

CANADIAN REINFORCEMENTS

Defenseman Kyle Soper, goaltender Noah Giesbrecht and forward Dawson McKinney all made their Baton Rouge and FPHL debuts last night after missing the first nine games of the campaign.

Soper dished out the primary assist on Shorrock's powerplay goal in the second period and led all Kingfish defensemen with three shots. 

Giesbrecht made 27 saves in his first start of the season.

McKinney collected three shots and skated on the top line alongside Williams and Jason Brancheau. 

SCOUTING THE BLACK BEARS

Binghamton (14 pts) won its fourth straight game last night and improved to 5-0-0 on home ice. Excluding the 2026 postseason, the Black Bears have won their last nine games at Visions Veterans Memorial Arena.

Chance Gorman piled up three more goals last night, his first hat trick of the season, and has scored 15 times in Binghamton's first eight games.

Captain C.J. Stubbs now leads the team with 23 points (7g, 16a) after collecting a team-high five points (1g, 4a) in last night's victory, 6-2. He was named the game's third star.