GAME 10 PREVIEW: BATON ROUGE KINGFISH AT BINGHAMTON BLACK BEARS

KINGFISH BEGIN THREE-IN-THREE

The Baton Rouge Kingfish begin a three-in-three series with the Binghamton Black Bears tonight at Visions Veterans Memorial Arena.

It's the final leg of a seven-game road trip on which Baton Rouge has traveled over 7,000 miles. The Kingfish are 2-1-1 through the first four games. 

Tonight is the first-ever meeting between Baton Rouge and Binghamton. The Black Bears have won the Commissioner's Cup each of the last three seasons. 

BROADCAST COVERAGE

Kingfish Pregame at 5:45 p.m.

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

LAST TIME OUT

Despite erasing a three-goal deficit, the Kingfish fell in overtime, 4-3, to the Fresno Falcons last Saturday night at Selland Arena.

The Kingfish surrendered three goals in just over six minutes to begin the game. Fresno struck 1:19 into the game on a rush down the left wing. The Falcons then tacked on two more tallies at 4:05 and 6:22, respectively. Baton Rouge got a powerplay goal from Tobias Odjick, his first of the season, to cut its deficit to two, 3-1, with 2:20 left in the first period.

The Kingfish recorded the only marker of the middle frame thanks to Tyler Larwood burying a rebound. 

Baton Rouge finally leveled the contest, 3-3, with 1:23 remaining in the third period. Playing with an empty net, Jake Cox deflected in a Jason Brancheau wrist shot in front of the net. It was the Kingfish's first goal in a 6-on-5 situation this season. We headed to overtime. 

Fresno notched the game-winner 3:13 into the 3-on-3 extra session to earn the extra standings point.

Ed Coffey, who entered in relief after the Falcons' third goal in the first period, made 38 saves in the loss.

COXY COMES THROUGH IN THE CLUTCH 

Jake Cox found the back of the net for the third time in four games last Saturday against Fresno, redirecting home the game-tying goal with 1:23 remaining in the third period. 

Cox now has points in five consecutive contests, the longest streak of his professional career. 

The 29-year-old leads the Kingfish in goals (7) and points (13).    

TOBES TALLIES HIS FIRST 

Forward Tobias Odjick scored his first goal of the season in the first period of Saturday night's game on the powerplay. He went on to post an assist on Cox's game-tying goal, joining Jason Brancheau as the only Baton Rouge skater with a multi-point game last weekend.

Prior to Saturday, Odjick's last goal was May 14, 2023 – Game 5 of the Commissioner's Cup Finals with the Danbury Hat Tricks. 

Odjick, 25, missed all of last season and most of 2024-25 with injury. 

DRAPS DRAWING CLOSE TO MILESTONE

After dishing out an assist last Saturday, center Joe Drapluk enters tonight's contest sitting at 99 career points (36g, 63a).

Drapluk is in his first FPHL season after spending the first five years of his career in the SPHL. He won a President's Cup championship in 2024 with the Peoria Rivermen. 

The University of Wisconsin-River Falls product has skated in all nine games this season for the Kingfish, recording seven points (2g, 5a). 

SCOUTING THE BLACK BEARS

Binghamton (12 pts) enters tonight's contest as the number one team in both the Atlantic Division and the Eastern Conference. 

Chance Gorman leads a potent group of Binghamton scorers. The 27-year-old is currently pacing the FPHL with 12 goals and is tied for third in points (19). 

 Dominik Tmej (3-1-0/2.01/.921) and Graham Burke (3-0-0/1.62/.940) have formed a formidable goaltending tandem. The Black Bears have been the second-best defensive team in the league, allowing 2.00 goals per game.

Binghamton has yet to lose on home ice, posting a 4-0-0 record at Visions Veterans Memorial Arena.