Gabriel Pizza Gameday Build-Up: Belleville look to stay hot versus Providence

Wednesday January 23, 2026 vs Providence Bruins (NHL Affiliate: Boston Bruins)

The Step Up:

The road trip continues for the Belleville Senators as they try to keep their five-game point streak alive against the Providence Bruins in the first game of a back-to-back in New England this weekend. Another extra-frame win for the Senators came against the Penguins on Wednesday night, giving Belleville 11 points in their last six games. The Senators are now set to square off against the Bruins for their third meeting of the year, looking to secure their fifth win in a row. Providence is yet another tough opponent, sitting third in the AHL standings and second in the Atlantic Division, just behind Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, which the Sens dispatched on Wednesday. The Bruins, who currently hold a 27-8-1-0 record with a +46 goal differential, are seen as Calder Cup contenders and are coming off back-to-back wins over the Cleveland Monsters last weekend. Providence is now 7-3-0 in its last ten games. Post-game, Belleville will travel to Springfield tonight to take on the Thunderbirds tomorrow at 6:05 p.m.

Roster Notes:

The roster saw only one change, as Stephen Halliday was recalled to the Ottawa Senators before Wednesday’s game in Wilkes-Barre. Halliday, who was returned to Belleville on January 10th, recorded one goal and seven points in five games during that time and tallied his first National Hockey League for Ottawa on Thursday night in Nashville. On the injury front, forwards Jake Chiasson, Olle Lycksell, and Philippe Daoust remain sidelined and are not on the trip. Forward Tyler Boucher went hard into the boards last weekend against the Comets in Ottawa and didn’t play Wednesday, but could draw back in for Belleville tonight. Full roster and lineup details will be available closer to puck drop on the Sens’ social channels (@BellevilleSens).

Previous History:

This will be the third meeting of the season between the two teams, with the final contest coming on February 20th at CAA Arena in Belleville. In the previous two games, the Senators dropped 6-3 and 6-4 decisions on back-to-back nights and will be hoping for a different result this time around on the road. Last season Belleville went 0-0-1-1 against the Bruins and over their 12 lifetime meetings, the Sens are 5-4-1-2. Here in Providence, the Sens hold a lifetime record of 2-1-1-1.

Who to Watch:

After his five-game point streak was snapped on Wednesday, Arthur Kaliyev will look to continue his league-leading season against one of the strongest goaltending duos in the AHL. On pace for 81 points in 70 games, Kaliyev’s goal-scoring ability has reached new heights, notching five goals during that stretch prior to Wednesday. This year, Kaliyev has never gone two games in a row without registering a point, which could bode well for Friday’s matchup at Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence. Along with Kaliyev, Xavier Bourgault has four points in his last two games and 37 points overall on the season.

For the Bruins, Riley Tufte is the player to watch. With four points in his last two games and six in his last five, the 2016 Dallas Stars draft pick is on pace for his best season yet (65 points). Tufte sits top three in Providence scoring and leads the team with 15 goals. Though he did not appear in the first two games of the season, his current point-per-game pace is something to watch if this game stays tight. Matej Blumel also has a hot hand, riding a three-game point streak with two goals and two assists over that span.

Follow the Action:

Puck drop tonight is set for 7:05 p.m. ET from Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, Rhode Island. Broadcast coverage begins at 6:55 p.m. with David Foot 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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