game day Share this Game Day Build-Up: Belleville Sens back in Utica for another battle with Comets February 8, 2025 Belleville Senators Game Day Build-Up Feb.8/25 @ Utica Comets (NHL Affiliate: New Jersey Devils) The Set Up: A night after being shutout on the road in Rochester, the Belleville Senators roll into Utica tonight, looking to get back in the win column and create more distance between themselves and the Comets at the bottom of the North Division standings. Belleville’s loss in Rochester last night, coupled with Utica’s win at Syracuse, leaves the Senators five points back of the playoff cut line and the Comets just four points behind Belleville. And there won’t be any secrets between opponents tonight as Belleville and Utica battle for the third time in a little over a week, following a split of their home-and-home series last weekend that included another Senators shutout loss on the road, followed by a dramatic home overtime win the following night. Previous History: This is the sixth of eight meetings between Belleville and Utica this season with the Senators holding a 3-1-1-0 record over the first five games. The Senators are 2-0-1-0 on home ice against the Comets this season and 1-1-0-0 away at the Adirondack Bank Center. Lifetime against Utica, Belleville is 22-17-4-0, with a 9-9-2-0 record away from home. The Sens and Comets will finish their season series in a couple of weeks, on Family Day Monday at CAA Arena, and on Wednesday February 19, back in Utica. Roster Notes: No transactions have been reported since last night’s game, but the Senators did get some good news on the injury front yesterday. Forward Jan Jenik returned from a two-game injury layoff and had one shot on net. Forward Tyler Boucher and goaltenders Mads Sogaard and Malcolm Subban remain on the injured list though Subban has been skating recently and is getting closer to a return. You can click here for a full list of up-to-date transactions, with lineup details available via the B-Sens social channels (@bellevillesens), ahead of game time. Who to Watch: Belleville defender Wyatt Wylie will suit up in his 200th American Hockey League game tonight. The 25-year-old from Everett, Washington, is in his first season with Belleville, after being drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in the fifth round in 2018 and beginning his pro career with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, and more recently, the Ontario Reign. Wylie has five points (one goal, four assists) over 23 games with Belleville this season and has totalled 53 points (12 goals, 41 assists) over the first 199 games of his AHL career. Meanwhile, veteran forward Sam Gagne has been peppering the net since joining the Senators, with 23 shots over his first six games, but has yet to score. Gagner had six of those shots last night in Rochester. Comets Captain Ryan Schmelzer has been trying to lead by example, as his team attempts to climb from the North Division basement. Schmelzer brings a three-game point streak (two goals, two assists) into tonight’s game. He also has a goal and two assists over five games against Belleville this season. Four other Comets have points in back-to-back games including defenceman Austin Strand (two assists), and forwards Max Willman (two assists), Nolan Foote (one goal, one assist), and Adam Beckman (two goals). Follow the Action: Puck drop tonight is set for 7:00 p.m. ET from Adirondack Bank Center, in Utica, New York. Broadcast coverage begins at 6:55 p.m. ET with David Foot, and can be seen on AHLTV on FloHockey or heard free on the Belleville Sens Entertainment Network. Ticket Info: Tickets for all Belleville Sens home games through the 2024-25 season are now on sale via Ticketmaster, or by emailing tickets@bellevillesens.com. Hours for the Belleville Sens Box Office at CAA Arena are available here. Fans can click the following links for more information on becoming a season seat member, purchasing a flex pack membership, or putting down a deposit for a group experience. For more details on those ticket options, plus details on premium seating and Business Elite packages, visit the Belleville Sens website or email tickets@bellevillesens.com. The full Belleville Sens 2024-25 regular season schedule is available here. About the Belleville Senators The Belleville Senators are the American Hockey League affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Ottawa Senators and have been operating in the AHL since the 2017-18 season. The Senators play their home games out of the CAA Arena at the Quinte Sports and Wellness Centre and have graduated more than 60 players to the NHL since moving from Binghamton, New York. — Visit the Belleville Sens website: www.bellevillesens.com Engage with the Belleville Sens on Twitter: @BellevilleSens Like the Belleville Sens on Facebook: www.facebook.com/BellevilleSens Follow the Belleville Sens on Instagram: @BellevilleSens Listen to the Belleville Sens on Mixlr: www.bellevillesens.mixlr.com Watch the Belleville Sens on AHLTV on FloHockey: www.watchtheahl.com
