(From Left) Tomas Hamara and Jan Janik celebrate Mr. Janik’s go ahead powerplay goal in the second period of Belleville’s 3-2 overtime win in Laval Wednesday night. (Laval Rocket Photo)
A season-defining road trip lies in wait for the Senators.
The B-Sens look to be undefeated in regulation through four games when they host the Rochester Americans tonight. That will be the last time the locals skate at the CAA Arena until Saturday, February 7, when they host Cleveland.
Belleville (15-18-6) are in Ottawa Sunday afternoon to play host to the Utica Comets at the Canadian Tire Centre, home of then parent Senators.
Then, a seven-game road trip that takes the Sens through Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Providence, Springfield, Cleveland, Syracuse, and Rochester.
If hoping to make a playoff push under new head coach Andrew Campbell, the Sens are trending in the right direction.
On Wednesday, they Senators skated into Laval and downed the high flying Rocket 3-2 in overtime. Belleville never trailed in the contest against the North Division leaders, handing the affilates of the Montreal Canadians their first loss in the extra session.
A 1-0 lead came early thanks to a bounce in the Laval crease. Jamieson Rees made a heads up play, firing a pass from the corner and the disc danced off Tyler Boucher’s leg, beyond the reach of goaltender Kaapo Kähkönen.
In the second, Laval finally solved Belleville’s Mads Søgaard and the club’s traded powerplay tallies in short order.
Laval’s Alex Belzile delighted the 9,000 plus in attendance at Place Bell, picking the corner on Mr. Søgaard at 3:04.
But just 2:30 later, it was Belleville’s turn with the man advantage. Mr. Boucher played set-up man as his dish landed on the stick of Jan Janik. The Nymburk, Czechia product went high glove side to restore Belleville’s one goal cushion.
Laval produced the only marker in the third period. AHL veteran Vincent Arseneau pounded home his first of the year on a cross crease feed from Sean Farrell at 2:27 to square the affair at 2-2.
Both Finnish netminders were infallible down the stretch as the game went to a extra period.
In overtime, sniper Arthur Kaliyev made a smart pass to a streaking Lassi Thomson. Mr. Thomson hesitated slightly and caught the Laval goalie leaning to his right. The Sens shooter then shot the puck off the far post and in at 1:39 to give Belleville the win.
The victory comes on the heels of a 6-1 win over Toronto and a 6-5 overtime loss to Rochester. The Sens will be looking to avenge that loss when the Amerks visit Belleville Friday. For tickets, visit https://bellevillesens.com.
See it in the newspaper
-21° Mainly Sunny
