Game Day Build-Up: Senators prep for Penguins as road trip continues

Belleville Senators Game Day Build-Up
Mar.4/25 @ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL Affiliate: Pittsburgh Penguins)

The Set Up:

It’s going to be a bit of strange week on the road for the Belleville Senators as they continue their quest to qualify for another Calder Cup Playoff berth. The Sens are set up in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania this week, where they’ll take on the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins twice and make a quick trip to Hershey and back, to take on the Bears (AHL affiliate of the Washington Capitals). They’ll eventually continue on to Hartford Connecticut to face the Wolf Pack (AHL affiliate of the New York Rangers). The interesting travel schedule was needed after ice issues in January, during Belleville’s last trip through the Keystone State, prohibited them from meeting with the Pens, forcing the game to be rescheduled for tonight. Not much has changed since then, with the Senators still sitting sixth in the North and within striking distance of the Syracuse Crunch for that final playoff spot, and the Penguins supplanted firmly in the middle of the competitive Atlantic, five points back of the Hershey Bears.

Previous History: 

The Sens and Pens split their previous two meetings this season at CAA Arena in January. In the first, the Penguins bounced the Senators 6-1, despite Belleville outshooting Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 40-28. The Senators would get some revenge the following night with a tight, 4-3 win, paced by three points from Stephen Halliday (two goals, one assist) and a 25-save performance from Michael Simpson to earn his first AHL win. Their four meetings this season will be the most Belleville and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton have faced off in one season. Over their 10 previous meetings since they moved to Belleville, the Senators have an even 5-5-0-0 record against the Penguins, with a 3-1-0-0 mark at the Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza, in Wilkes-Barre.

Roster Notes: 

The Belleville Sens made a trio of transactions after Saturday’s game in Laval, with the roster starting to fill out a bit more. Forward Tristan Ashbrook was released from his professional tryout, while forward Jake Chiasson and goaltender Michael Simpson were assigned to the Orlando Solar Bears (ECHL). Forward Hayden Hodgson’s four-game suspension from last week in Cleveland has now been served, so he’s eligible to play tonight as well, and Xavier Bourgault came off the injured list in Laval over the weekend. You can click here for a full list of up-to-date transactions, with full lineup details ahead of game time via the Belleville Sens social channels (@BellevilleSens).

Who to Watch:

Rookie forward Stephen Halliday extended his point streak to four games with an assist on Saturday, giving him a team-leading 39 points, and putting him in a tie for fifth in rookie scoring in the AHL. He’s the only Senators player on an extended point streak coming into the game. However, first-year defender Jorian Donovan has been settling into the pro ranks as well and scored his first AHL goal last weekend in Laval.

There are a couple of consistently-producing Penguins of late include Ville Koivunen (two goals, seven assists) and Boris Katchouk (four goals, four assists), who are riding six-game point streaks into tonight’s game. Rookie blueliner Rutger McGroarty is on a four-game point streak (three goals, one assist) and Valtteri Puustinen has four points over his last two games, including two goals and an assist in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s last game at Hershey on the weekend.

Follow the Action:

Puck drop tonight set for 7:05 p.m. ET from the Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. 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.

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