Gabriel Pizza Gameday Build-Up: Senators search for strong finish to the weekend in Springfield

Saturday January 24, 2026 vs Springfield Thunderbirds (NHL Affiliate: St. Louis Blues)

The Set Up:

After a close overtime loss to the Bruins in Providence on Friday night, the Belleville Senators make a quick turnaround in Springfield, Massachusetts and finish off their back-to-back set against the Thunderbirds this weekend. The overtime magic may have run out as the Bruins claimed the extra point, but Interim Head Coach Andrew Campbell was pleased with his team’s performance, which stretched their points streak to a tidy six games. Even in the loss, the Senators now sit at 18-18-7-0, holding the final playoff spot with 12 points in their last seven games. It’s been a challenging season for the Thunderbirds, who also played more than 60 minutes last night, snapping a six-game losing skid with a 4-3 overtime win against the Senators’ rival, the Toronto Marlies. Springfield sits last in the Atlantic Division at 14-19-4-2, with 34 points, and, like Belleville, recently went through a head coaching change. They’ll be looking to keep the momentum going after dropping seven of their last 10 games, while Belleville will look to counter that and take advantage of a T-Birds team that’s navigating some recent turbulence.

Roster Notes:

There are no roster changes to note as of this morning for the Belleville Senators, with the most recent transactions being the recalls of Stephen Halliday and Hunter Shepard to Ottawa earlier this week. On the injury front, forwards Jake Chiasson, Olle Lycksell, and Philippe Daoust continue to work their way back but are not on the road trip. Tyler Boucher returned to the Senators lineup on Friday night in Providence after taking a hard crash into the boards last weekend and consequently missing Wednesday’s win over the Penguins. Full roster and lineup details will be available closer to puck drop on the Sens’ social channels (@BellevilleSens).

Previous History:

Last season, the Senators were perfect sporting a 2-0-0-0 record, bucking the trend that has seen Belleville skate to just a 4-10-1-0 lifetime record against the T-Birds, with last year’s win in Springfield being their first ever at MassMutual Center. The final meeting of the season series will take place on March 21st, when Springfield visits CAA Arena to wrap up the short two-game season series, with puck drop scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

Who to Watch:

In a small sample size this season, Leevi Merilainen has shone when given the nod for Belleville. The young Finnish goaltender owns a 3-1-0 record through four appearances and continues to prove he can be an impact player at the professional level. In his most recent start on Wednesday night against the Penguins, Merilainen was nearly perfect, stopping 27 of 29 shots while making several key saves in crucial moments, including 13 stops in the first period. With a .906 save percentage and three consecutive wins, Merilainen could once again keep the door shut as the Senators close out their weekend.

Coming into Saturday night’s matchup on a nine-game point streak, Matt Luff has been a key contributor for Springfield. Since January 4th, the former Belleville Bulls product has recorded 11 points, including three goals and eight assists. Even during a five-game losing streak prior to Friday, his production remained steady with six points, making him a possible key factor in today’s matchup. Matthew Peca, who also played some games with Belleville as part of a brief stint as a Senator, has put together an impressive run of his own, as well. The Tampa Bay Lightning draftee has tallied eight points in his last seven games, providing significant offence and emerging as another player to watch once the puck drops.

Follow the Action:

Puck drop tonight is set for 6:05 p.m. ET from MassMutual Center in Springfield, Massachusetts. Broadcast coverage begins at 5:55 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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