THIRD-PERIOD COMEBACK FALLS SHORT, KINGFISH DROP SECOND GAME TO BLACK BEARS

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — Despite a two-goal push in the third period, the Baton Rouge Kingfish couldn't catch the Binghamton Black Bears and fell, 4-2, tonight at Visions Veterans Memorial Arena. 

Binghamton had a field day on special teams in the first period. The Black Bears opened the scoring 8:41 into the opening frame on the powerplay to jump in front, 1-0. Baton Rouge then turned the puck over on the powerplay and Binghamton capitalized, burying a breakaway to increase its lead to two, 2-0, with 8:35 left in the frame. 

In the second, the Black Bears began to pull away. They scored off the rush during 4-on-4 play eight minutes in to go ahead by three. The Black Bears' league-leading powerplay struck again just past the halfway point of regulation to make it 4-0. Overall, Binghamton converted on two of its 10 chances on the man advantage. The Kingfish were assessed a season-high 63 penalty minutes.

Trailing by four in the third period, the Fish showed grit. They out-shot the Black Bears, 11-9, in the final 20 minutes and had the defending champions on their heels. Jake Cox poked in a pass from Jason Brancheau 4:32 into the frame. Then, six minutes later, Tyler Larwood potted his second of the season to cut the deficit to a pair, 4-2. 

With 4:05 left in the game, it appeared Dawson McKinney had scored the Kingfish's third on a 5-on-3 powerplay. However, the goal was disallowed after Binghamton successfully challenged for offside.

The Kingfish went scoreless in 10 powerplay chances in the 4-2 loss. Noah Giesbrecht made 34 saves.

Baton Rouge looks to avoid being swept in the three-in-three series tomorrow afternoon. The puck drops at 4 p.m. CST in Binghamton.