Gabriel Pizza Gameday Build-Up: Senators eye critical points against Penguins

Friday March 20, 2026, vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (NHL Affiliate: Pittsburgh Penguins)

The Set Up

Coming off a loss on Wednesday night, the Belleville Senators are looking to reset and welcome the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins into CAA Arena. In what was a close game up until the third period, Belleville ultimately fell short in a 7–2 loss, moving them to 24-29-8-0, still just three points back of the final playoff spot. Monsters forward Luca Del Bel Belluz led the way for Cleveland with three goals and four points, while Arthur Kaliyev scored twice. With those two goals (33), Kaliyev has now set the record for most goals in a single season by a Belleville Senator. Now the Penguins come into Belleville for the second game of this five-game homestand. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton has had a very successful season, sitting comfortably in the Atlantic Division with a 37-16-6-2 record (82 points), good for second place. Lately, however, the Penguins have been slightly inconsistent, going 4-3-3-0 in their last ten games. The Pittsburgh affiliate does not overwhelm opponents with high-end scorers, but instead embraces an “everyone eats” mentality, while also boasting one of the better young goaltenders in Sergei Murashov to backstop this year’s success. It’s now or never for the Senators, who need to be nearly perfect as March winds down and April approaches.

Previous History

There has only been one meeting between these two teams this season, coming back on January 21st. Belleville earned a 3–2 overtime win, highlighted by a hard-nosed first 60 minutes, with Xavier Bourgault and Landen Hookey finding the net. Lassi Thomson played hero by scoring the overtime winner, while Mads Sogaard stopped 27 of 29 shots in the victory. It was also a true quality-over-quantity game, with Belleville recording 19 shots to the Penguins’ 29, but capitalizing on their chances. With that win, the Senators improved to 1-0-0-0 against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this season and hold a 7-6-0-0 all-time record.

Roster Notes

Following Wednesday’s game, there are no new roster changes as of this morning for the Belleville Senators. On the injury front, forward Philippe Daoust and defencemen Jorian Donovan and Cam Crotty are progressing in their recoveries. Donovan has returned to the ice and could be nearing a return to the lineup, though there is no official timetable. Full roster and lineup details will be available closer to puck drop on the Sens’ social media channels (@BellevilleSens).

Who to Watch

There has been plenty of change in the Belleville locker room over the past few weeks, including the addition of defenceman Samuel Bolduc. Acquired from Ontario in exchange for forward Jan Jenik last week, the two-way defender has quickly become a calming presence on the blue line. Playing top-pairing minutes alongside rookie Carter Yakemchuk, Bolduc’s quick puck movement and offensive instincts have helped him transition seamlessly into the lineup. With three points in his first three games, the 25-year-old has already made a positive impact and will look to carry that momentum through the end of the season.

After a 5-1 loss on Wednesday night, Sergei Murashov will be looking to bounce back from an uncharacteristic performance. Emerging as one of the AHL’s top goaltenders this season, Murashov has been a key factor in the Penguins’ success. The Russian-born goaltender has compiled a 21-8-3 record, along with a .919 save percentage and a 2.20 goals-against average, plus three shutouts. Now in his second AHL season, Murashov has transitioned seamlessly to the North American game and is widely regarded as one of hockey’s more promising goalie prospects. Keep an eye on No. 1 tonight as he could very well be a difference-maker.

Follow the Action:

Puck drop tonight is set for 7:00 p.m. ET from CAA Arena in Belleville, Ontario. Broadcast coverage begins at 6:45 p.m. with David Foot and Zach Staden, and can be seen on AHLTV on FloHockey, with a free-to-listen option available 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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