When the Binghamton Devils season hit the stretch run last season, they were the most fun team to watch in the American Hockey League. They looked like they were going to make a serious run in the playoffs, but then the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the rest of the season. Instead of forming a bubble to determine the Calder Cup Champion, the league just ended things. It was sad for Devils fans, but we knew they’d be good again whenever they returned.
Well, it was on par with how things have been going for this organization lately when they announced that the B-Devils would postpone their first two games because of COVID-19 protocol. It was tough to see, especially since the New Jersey Devils haven’t played in over a week for the same reason. It has been a tough season so far.
The Binghamton Devils can now give fans something to cheer about once again.
Finally, however, the AHL Devils were able to get their season going on Monday night. It was a matchup with the Wilkes Barre/Scranton Penguins. In this game, the Devils earned the win but they didn’t make things easy on themselves. They went down 1-0 but Nolan Foote managed to deflect a puck into the net for his first career pro hockey goal. New Jersey believes he will be a great goal scorer for them someday.
Just a few minutes later, the Wilkes/Barre Scranton Penguins scored two quick ones to go up 3-1. That isn’t what you want to see in your first game of the season if you are Binghamton, especially in the first game of the season. However, a few minutes later Danick Martel scored to get Binghamton within one. A little later, Ryan Schmelzer tied the game up and Binghamton was able to get it to overtime. Something that is nice to see is the fact that 19-year-old Michael Vukojevic assisted on both of those goals.
In overtime, Devils’ prospect Reilly Walsh scored to give Binghamton the win 1:49 into overtime. People thought he was going to leave as a college free agent but now he is scoring OT game-winning goals in the AHL in his first pro-game. This is another player that the New Jersey Devils believe will be on their NHL roster one day.
Winning is more fun than losing in general, but a nice comeback is telling us early that this Binghamton team won’t go down easy. They certainly won’t go undefeated but after the way last year ended, you can bet that the returning players really want to settle their unfinished business. The newer guys should only help that cause. This was a good first game and we saw a lot of good from this team. Their success this year is very important for the future of the organization.