Game Day Build-Up: Senators final road swing of the season begins with rubber match in Rochester

Belleville Senators Game Day Build-Up
Apr.9/25 @ Rochester Americans (NHL Affiliate: Buffalo Sabres)

The Set Up:

The Belleville Senators are back on the road and continue their chase for a spot in the 2025 Calder Cup Playoffs. They have returned to Rochester, New York, for the rubber match of their current three-game run against the Americans and the finale of their eight-game season series. The Sens and Amerks traded shutouts at CAA Arena last weekend, with Belleville winning 5-0 on Friday and Rochester countering with a 4-0 on Saturday, but Belleville will be motivated tonight by more than just another chance at payback. The Sens need to make up a six-point gap in the North Division standings to back into a playoff spot, so with just six games to play, a victory on their last trip to the Flower City this season would go a long way to helping them make up ground on, or at least keep pace with, fifth place Toronto and fourth place Cleveland.

Previous History:

This is the conclusion of the eight-game set between Belleville and Rochester this season. The Senators will lose the season series, currently sitting at 2-5-0-0, but can end things on a high note with a win, in a building where they have had some success.  Belleville’s all-time record at Blue Cross Arena is 15-8-1-0, including a victory on opening night of this season, back in October. Overall against the Amerks since moving to the Friendly City, the Senators are 26-17-5-1.

Roster Notes: 

There’s not much change to report in terms of the roster from the weekend, other than power forward Hayden Hodgson is eligible to return from his two-game suspension. Defenceman Max Guenette is not with the club after being injured last week against Syracuse, and forward Jake Chiasson remains with the club after being reassigned from Orlando (ECHL) last week. Angus Crookshank’s NHL recall continues with Ottawa.. 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:

With Belleville being shutout on Saturday night, Xavier Bourgault’s three-game point streak came to an end. However, the Senators may look for forward Phil Daoust for an offensive spark. The Barrie, Ontario native has collected four points (one goal, three assists) in his last five games played and had three shots on goal in Saturday’s loss to the Amerks. Daoust is also one of Belleville’s co-leading scorers against Rochester this season with four points (two goals, two assists) over seven games. Defenceman Jeremy Davies (one goal, three assists) and forward Stephen Halliday (four assists), also have four points in seven games against Rochester this season.

Rookie forward Konsta Helenius was the Rochester player to watch on Saturday night and he lived up to that title, scoring a hat-trick, including an empty-net goal, in the Amerks’ 4-0 win over the Senators. The 18-year-old has registered 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in seven games against Belleville this season. Veteran defenceman Kale Clague has 10 points (three goals, seven assists) over seven games of the season series with the Sens.

Follow the Action:

Puck drop tonight is set for 7:05 p.m. ET from Blue Cross Arena in Rochester, 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 the final Belleville Sens home game of the season, on Saturday April 19, 2025 against the Laval Rocket, are available via Ticketmaster, or by emailing tickets@bellevillesens.com. Hours for the Belleville Sens Box Office at CAA Arena are available here.

2025-26 Season Seat Memberships are on sale now by contacting the Belleville Sens office at 613-967-8067, emailing tickets@bellevillesens.com, or visiting the Belleville Sens website.  Fans who renew or purchase a season seat membership before May 2 are entered into our ’26 Days of Gifting’ contest, with daily draws for great prizes. Plus, all new and renewed season seat members will have a chance to ‘Shoot to Win’ $1,000 off their seats at a special event on May 15, 2025.

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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