Gabriel Pizza Gameday Build-Up: Senators visit Syracuse for first road test of 2026-27

Saturday, October 10, 2026, vs. Syracuse Crunch (NHL Affiliate: Tampa Bay Lightning)

The Set-Up

The Belleville Senators are off and running as they head out for their first road game of the season, travelling to Syracuse to take on the Crunch. After six days of rest and practice, the BSens are looking to pick up where they left off after securing a 3-2 shootout win over the Rochester Americans. First star Jonas Johansson stopped 36 of 38 shots in the win, while newcomers Phil Tomasino and Samuel Blais made an impact by scoring their first goals in red and black. The gutsy win helped the Senators secure their first victory of the season, and post-game, goaltender Johansson felt more comfortable between the pipes. “I felt better tonight than in game one. It’s been a while since I first played, so I felt more confident, and I think the whole team did as well. We got off on the right foot right away.” Now, Belleville shifts its focus to the 1-1-0-0 Syracuse Crunch, who opened their season with a back-to-back set in Laval. The Crunch are led by familiar names in Nick Abruzzese and Dylan Duke, who will look to lead the offence once again this season. However, the biggest storyline is former BSen Mads Søgaard. The Great Dane made his debut with the Crunch in the season opener, recording a 27-save shutout against the Rocket. Setting the tone in this season series will be crucial as these two sides begin the first of eight meetings this year, with puck drop scheduled for 7:00 p.m. this evening.

Previous History

Dating back to last season, the Senators are looking to improve on their 3-5-0-0 record against the Crunch. Their last meeting came on the final game game of the season for Belleville, when Syracuse secured a 4-0 shutout victory. Belleville enters this divisional rivalry with a 25-26-2-3 all-time record against the Crunch as the Senators look to get an early hold on the season series with a win in the opening matchup.

Roster Notes

The Senators made a few roster moves ahead of their trip to New York State. Defenceman Jorian Donovan was loaned back to the BSens on Tuesday, while goaltender Jonas Johansson was recalled the same day before being loaned back to Belleville on Thursday. Defenceman Hoyt Stanley was recalled to Ottawa ahead of the team’s home opener on Thursday. Going into his first professional season, Stanley logged 10:21 of ice time across 14 shifts while blocking one shot in NHL debut. Full roster and lineup details will be available closer to puck drop on the Senators’ social media channels (@BellevilleSens).

Who to Watch

A familiar face in the Senators organization, Philippe Daoust is coming off the strongest season of his professional career and looking to carry that momentum into the year ahead. The 24-year-old forward signed an NHL contract with Ottawa this summer after spending the 2025-26 campaign on an AHL deal with Belleville. The Barrie, Ontario, native put together an impressive season with career highs across the board, recording 14 goals and 50 points in 63 games. A sixth-round pick by Ottawa in 2020, Daoust has yet to find the scoresheet through two contests. However, with opportunities continuing to come his way, the forward is sure to break through offensively. After earning the club’s Coaches’ Choice Award last season, Daoust will aim to build on that success as he takes another step in his professional career. He’ll be one to watch as he looks to make another big impact for Belleville this season.

Returning to the AHL this season with a new franchise, Mads Sogaard is set for a special matchup as he faces his former team for the first time in his career. The 25-year-old goaltender spent six professional seasons within the Ottawa organization, becoming a regular presence between the pipes for Belleville while also making appearances at the NHL level. Standing 6-foot-7, Sogaard brings plenty of experience against AHL competition, recording a 52-46-10-3 record across 119 career games with Belleville. Originally selected by Ottawa in the second round of the 2019 NHL Draft, Sogaard developed into a familiar face within the organization before beginning a new chapter in Syracuse. Now on the opposite side of the ice, the Aalborg, Denmark, native will have a unique opportunity to face the team that helped shape his professional career. With familiarity on both sides adding another storyline to the matchup, keep an eye on Sogaard as he looks to deliver another strong performance against his former organization.

Follow the Action:

Puck drop tonight is set for 7:00 p.m. ET from Upstate Medical University Arena in Syracuse, New York. Broadcast coverage begins at 6:45 p.m. with David Foot and Tyler King, and can be seen via AHLTV on FloHockey.

Once again, the full 2026-27 Belleville Senators schedule is available by clicking here.

More information on season seat memberships, Sens on Demand ticketing, premium seating, the Business Edge program, and more can be found by visiting the Belleville Sens Website.