Game Day Build-Up: Battle of Ontario shifts to Belleville for Round 2

Belleville Senators Game Day Build-Up
Oct.26/24 vs Toronto Marlies (NHL Affiliate: Toronto Maple Leafs)

The Set Up:

A night after a tight 4-3 shootout loss to the rival Marlies in Toronto, the Belleville Sens will get another crack at their opponents from across Highway 401. Belleville was a couple of shootout posts away from handing Toronto its first loss of the season. Angus Crookshank, Keean Washkurak and Oskar Pettersson all scored in regulation time, and Leevi Merilainen stopped 26 of 29 shots. Still, luck wasn’t on Belleville’s side, with Stephen Halliday and Matt Highmore catching iron. Tonight, the B-Sens will look to replicate the strategies that worked for them on Friday and as Head Coach Dave Bell said, “clean up a couple of things that bit us”, and try to reverse their fortunes in a Battle of Ontario rematch at CAA Arena.

Previous History:

Tonight’s matchup is the second of 10 between Belleville and Toronto this season. The Senators’ record is 0-0-0-1 following last night’s shootout defeat. Lifetime against Toronto, the B-Sens are now 37-32-2-5, and 17-18-0-3 at CAA Arena. The Senators and Marlies will continue the 2024-25 Battle of Ontario on Saturday, November 16, 2024, when the Sens head to Toronto again, for a matchup at Scotiabank Arena.

Roster Notes:

So far this morning, there has been no news on the roster front for Belleville. Forward Cole Reinhardt was recalled to the National Hockey League yesterday and picked up his first career NHL point last night, with an assist in Ottawa’s 6-4 loss in Vegas. Meanwhile, Leevi Merilainen returned from the NHL and put up a strong performance last night, but no word yet if he’ll make back-to-back starts, with Mads Sogaard hurt and rookie Michael Simpson backing up. Full lineup details for tonight’s game, including line combinations, will be available via the Belleville Sens social media channels (@BellevilleSens) ahead of puck drop.

Who to Watch:

Incoming Belleville forward Keean Washkurak picked up his first points as a member of the Senators last night, scoring a goal and making a great play to set up Oskar Pettersson. The 23-year-old from Waterloo, Ontario, joined Belleville in the offseason after spending the past few years with the Springfield Thunderbirds, where he played with returning B-Sens forward Matt Highmore. Along with Washkurak, Garrett Pilon and Zack Ostapchuk, both extended their point streaks to four games (one goal, four assists), while defenders Jeremy Davies (two goals, one assist) and Nikolas Matinpalo (three assists) are now on three-game point streaks.

Toronto captain Logan Shaw was the difference-maker for the Marlies on Friday night, scoring a shorthanded regulation goal and then being the only Toronto player to beat Leevi Merilainen in the shootout. The former Belleville captain’s first goal of the season put him on a three-game point streak (one goal, two assists) through six games. But he’s not the only streaking Marlies player coming into tonight’s contest. Alex Nylander picked up another assist, along with four shots on goal last night, and has points in all six games this season (five goals, two assists). Speedy forward Nick Abruzzese has points in back-to-back games (one goal, one assist), while goaltender Artur Akhtyamov has won four straight starts to begin his AHL career.

At the Rink:

Doors for tonight’s contest open at 6:00 p.m., as usual, but fans may want to give themselves a little bit of extra time to find a parking spot and get into the building. With the annual Belleville and District Kennel Club Dog Show going on this weekend, parking will be limited. You may also see some furry friends running around the Quinte Sports & Wellness Centre before the game as well. Also tonight, representatives from the Children’s Foundation will be on hand for a special ceremonial puck drop to mark Friday’s Dress Purple Day, raising awareness about the essential role that individuals and communities play in supporting vulnerable children, youth, and families. Fans will also be able to bid on player-worn purple hoodies behind Section 116/117, with the proceeds going to support the Children’s Foundation’s programming and initiatives.

Ticket Info:

Tickets for tonight’s matchup with Toronto and all games through 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 will be open from Noon until 7:30 p.m. today.

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 by 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 Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto, Ontario. Broadcast coverage begins at 6:50 p.m. with David Foot and Brock Ormond, and can be seen on AHLTV on FloHockey, or heard free on the Belleville Sens Entertainment Network. Fans attending the game at CAA Arena can bring their portable FM radio receiver and tune in to 88.1 FM to hear the broadcast. A limited number of FM receivers are available for sign-out at Guest Services (Gate 2), but fans are asked to bring their own headphones if possible.

The full Belleville Sens 2024-25 regular season schedule is available by clicking here. 

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