Gabriel Pizza Gameday Build-Up: Big points up for grabs as Senators continue road swing in Cleveland

Friday January 30, 2026 vs Cleveland Monsters (NHL Affiliate: Columbus Blue Jackets)

The Set Up:

A winning mindset is what the Senators have had of late and will take into Cleveland on Friday night. Coming off their third shutout win of the season in Springfield, thanks to a 40-save performance by Leevi Merilainen, Belleville is now 19-18-7-0 on the year (6-2-2-0 in their last 10 games) and looking to push forward in the first game of a back-to-back at Rocket Arena against the North Division-rival Monsters. The Monsters are shaping up to be another tough matchup for the Senators, as they begin the second leg of this seven-game stretch away from CAA Arena. Cleveland has posted a 6-3-1-0 record over their last ten games and holds the fifth spot in the North Division, one point ahead of Belleville and with four games in hand. This hot streak for Cleveland includes a recent dominant 4-1 win over the league-leading Grand Rapids Griffins on the road Wednesday night, extending their winning streak to three games, and giving them 45 points overall with a 20-14-5-1 record. With nearly identical records over their last ten games, Belleville will look to extend their point streak to nine games and continue their strong play, as they try to leap  over Cleveland again in the tight North Division playoff race.

Roster Notes:

There are a couple of roster moves to note going into tonight’s game, as Xavier Bourgault was recalled to the Ottawa Senators last week and dressed in Ottawa’s win over Colorado on Wednesday, while Mads Sogaard was loaned back to Belleville. The Great Dane’s return gives Belleville three solid options in goal this weekend, with Sogaard, Leevi Merilainen, and Hunter Shepard all available. There’s also good news on the injury front, with Olle Lycksell and Philippe Daoust both being cleared to return to action this weekend. As players get healthy and the roster starts to grow, the Senators have made a pair of corresponding moves, loaning Jake Chiasson and Djibril Toure to the club’s ECHL affiliate, the Allen Americans. Full roster and lineup details will be available closer to puck drop on the Sens’ social channels (@BellevilleSens).

Previous History:

This will be the second meeting of four this season between the two sides, as game one ended in a 4-1 victory for Cleveland on December 13th at CAA Arena. Arthur Kaliyev scored the lone goal for the Senators, while Will Butcher added two assists for the Monsters. In previous seasons, Belleville split the four-game series last year, going 2-2-0-0, and has gone 14-17-0-2 over 33 lifetime meetings. At the Rocket Arena in Cleveland, the Sens are 7-9-0-0 in 16 regular season visits. The two teams will meet again in Cleveland tomorrow evening, with their final matchup in Belleville on March 18th at CAA Arena, with puck drop scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

Who to Watch:

During this productive stretch for Belleville, the team’s depth has contributed consistently, and Keean Washkurak has been a big part of that success, scoring three times in his last five contests. Washkurak stressed the importance of winning small battles and getting to the hard areas following Belleville’s game against the Utica Comets in Ottawa. “Soup (Head Coach Andrew Campbell) has been preaching that to us, and things have been going our way by going to the net. I’m kinda that player that does that, so it’s nice”, he said. Beyond the points, Washkurak’s off-puck impact has stood out through his physicality, showing that even in tight games, he can contribute defensively while still creating scoring chances.

With four goals in his last three games and six in his last five, Owen Sillinger enters this matchup with the hot stick for Cleveland. Currently fifth among Monsters scorers with 20 points, Sillinger is riding his first point streak of the season and carrying confidence into this pivotal in-division battle. The 28-year-old center is on pace for his second-best AHL season, trailing only his 40-point campaign in 2023-24. Sillinger isn’t the only center producing lately for Cleveland. Jack Williams is also on a three-game point streak, recording three assists and a goal during that span. The Monsters have not lacked scoring, tallying 20 goals in their last five contests, so keep an eye on both players to make an impact tonight.

Follow the Action:

Puck drop tonight is set for 6:50 p.m. ET from Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. Broadcast coverage begins at 7:00 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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