Gabriel Pizza Gameday Build-Up: Belleville back at it for Boxing Day ‘Battle of Ontario’

Sunday, December 26, 2025 @ Toronto Marlies (NHL Affiliate: Toronto Maple Leafs)

The Set-Up:

The Holiday Break has gone as quickly as it came, and the Belleville Senators will need to shake the turkey and stuffing out of their systems quickly today, as they visit the Toronto Marlies at Scotiabank Arena (home of the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs) for the eighth Battle of Ontario meeting this season. This is also the third straight game between the two divisional foes, after Belleville knocked off Toronto with a convincing 8-4 victory at CAA Arena just before the break. The Sens enter the post-Christmas stretch back in 4th in the very tight North Division standings and are just one point ahead of Toronto and Cleveland, and only four points back of Rochester in third place. Belleville is also on its second stretch of at least four games with a point (1-0-3-0) as they continue into their second week of play under Interim Head Coach Andrew Campbell, while the Marlies are trying to avoid suffering back-to-back losses for just the fifth time this year.

Previous History:

Belleville’s win at home last Sunday improves their record against Toronto this season to 4-1-2-0, meaning the Sens have only failed to collect points in one game against the Marlies in 2025-26. The Sens have outscored the Marlies 28-20 this season. In terms of their Boxing Day Classic record, Belleville is 4-2 and a goalie has been named the game’s first star four times! The 2025-26 season series resumes in Toronto on January 9, 2026 and concludes the following evening back at CAA Arena in Belleville. Ahead of this 93rd lifetime meeting between Belleville and Toronto, the Sens are 43-36-5-6, and 23-16-4-2 over 45 road games.

Roster Notes:

There was one transaction for the Senators just before the break with forward Olle Lycksell being returned from NHL Ottawa. However, Lycksell is not expected to be in today’s lineup. Neither are injured players, Matt Andonovski and Carter Yakemchuk, and forward Tyler Boucher. Forward Stephen Halliday and Olle Lycksell, and goaltender Leevi Merilainen are all still up with Ottawa. Full roster and lineup details will be available closer to puck drop on the Sens social channels (@BellevilleSens).

Who to Watch:

Defenders don’t always get the credit they deserve, but Belleville blueliners Scott Harrington and Lassi Thomson are coming off of fantastic performances last Sunday vs Toronto. Harrington had an assist and a +5 rating, while Thomson scored and was +4. The Finnish defender, Thomson, has three points (one goal, two assists), and seven shots on goal over the past two games. Meanwhile, Arthur Kaliyev is now tied for the AHL lead in points (31) and goals (19), and stands alone as the league-leader in power play goals (10), and shots on net (115). Mark Duarte (one goal, one assist) and Garrett Pilon (one goal, three assists) also have points in back-to-back games.

Jake Quillan will be the Marlies player to watch again, after he extended his point streak to six games last Sunday (two goals, six assists). The 23-year-0ld Nova Scotian also has a personal 10-game point streak against Belleville, registering at least a point in every game since Boxing Day 2024. That’s the longest active points streak by a Belleville Sens opponent. Aside from Quillan, Travis Boyd is aon a 5-game point streak (two goals, four assists), Bo Groulx has scored in four straight games, and Logan Shaw has points in three straight (one goal, two assists).

Follow the Action:

Puck drop tonight is set for 2:00 p.m. ET from Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario. Broadcast coverage begins at 1:50 ET with David Foot and Zach Staden, and is available on AHLTV via FloHockey or free to listen on the Belleville Sens Entertainment Network.

Ticket Info:

Tickets for all Belleville Sens 2025-26 home games are now on sale via Ticketmaster or at the Belleville Sens Box Office located inside the Quinte Sports & Wellness Centre. Details on season seat memberships, flex packs, premium seating, the Business Edge Program, and more can be found by visiting the Belleville Sens Website. 

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