game day Share this Game Day Build-Up: Senators stop in Syracuse to cap season-opening road trip October 12, 2024 Belleville Senators Game Day Build-Up Oct.12/24 @ Syracuse Crunch (NHL Affiliate: Tampa Bay Lightning) The Set Up: It’s one down and 71 to go for the Belleville Senators as they continue their season-opening road trip in Syracuse tonight against the Crunch. Belleville put together a solid opening night effort in Rochester last night, picking up a 3-2 victory, thanks to goals from Xavier Bourgault, Cole Reinhardt and Phil Daoust, and a 22-save performance from Leevi Merilainen. But the Crunch also had a pretty good first game of the season, dispatching the Comets in Utica 5-0, led by a pair of goals from rookie Dyllan Gill and a 26-save shutout from Brandon Halverson. Previous History: Like Rochester last night, the margin between Belleville and Syracuse at the end of the 2023-24 season was slim, with Syracuse one point back of the Amerks and only five up on Belleville in third place. That was despite Belleville’s impressive 7-1-0-0 record against the Crunch last season, which included a 4-0-0-0 mark on home ice and a 3-1-0-0 record at Upstate Medical University Arena. Even with Belleville taking a significant advantage in the season series, four games were decided by one goal (three of those in overtime or a shootout), and only one matchup where the difference was more than two goals. Lifetime against the Crunch, the B-Sens are 20-16-2-2 and 6-10-2-2- in Syracuse. Roster Notes: Belleville got out of last night’s game in Syracuse without any significant injuries, which means Head Coach Dave Bell should have his whole stable to choose from when it comes to lineup decisions tonight. Rookies Tomas Hamara, Jorian Donovan, and Jake Chiasson, along with more experienced players Wyatt Bongiovanni and Hayden Hodgson, didn’t dress last night but could make their season debuts tonight. There’s also been no word yet if Leevi Merilainen will play again in net or if Mads Sogaard will get the start on the back-to-back set. Full lineup details including line combinations will be available via the Belleville Sens social channels (@BellevilleSens) before tonight’s game. Who to Watch: After playing only four AHL games last season, and nine the campaign before, Phil Daoust was flying out of the gates for Belleville yesterday. The 22-year-old from Barrie, Ontario picked up his first goal of the season, the game-winner no less, and had a game-high, seven shots on goal. Forward Xavier Bourgault registered a goal and an assist in his Belleville Sens debut. Cole Reinhardt assisted on the Bourgault goal to earn his 100th career AHL point and then scored one himself in the second period, to give them each two-point nights There are a handful of players worth watching for Syracuse, but a few familiar faces have joined the Crunch from another divisional rival. Jesse Ylonen and Joel Teasdale, who both played for the Laval Rocket at some point in their careers, made their Crunch debuts last night. Forward Gage Goncalves, Syracuse’s leading scorer with 58 points (13 goals, 45 assists) last season, did not play but will be an offensive threat if he’s in the lineup tonight. He also had four points in eight games against Belleville last season. Ticket Info: Single-game tickets for the first half of the 2024-25 Belleville Sens season are now on sale via Ticketmaster, by emailing tickets@bellevillesens.com, or the Belleville Sens Box Office at CAA Arena during select hours. Fans looking to get a head start on locking up tickets for any game on the schedule can do so now by becoming a season seat member, purchasing a flex pack membership, or putting down a deposit for a group experience. More information on those ticket options, plus details on premium seating and Business Elite packages is available by visiting the Belleville Sens website or emailing tickets@bellevillesens.com. Follow the Action: Puck drop tonight is set for 7:00 p.m. from the Upstate Medical University arena in Sryacuse, New York, and can be seen on AHLTV on FloHockey, or heard free on the Belleville Sens Entertainment Network. Pregame coverage on both platforms begins at 6:50 p.m., with David Foot. The full Belleville Sens 2024-25 regular season schedule is available by clicking here. — 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
