Gabriel Pizza Gameday Build-Up: Sens seek redemption in Utica versus Comets

Friday March 6, 2026, vs. Utica Comets (NHL Affiliate: New Jersey Devils)

The Set Up

The Senators enter their second straight home-and-home series to cap off this four-game set against the Utica Comets tonight at the Adirondack Bank Center. A 5–1 loss on Saturday is where Belleville left this rivalry, and now they seek revenge on the road. The lone goal for the Senators was Carter Yakemchuk’s eighth of the season, with assists going to Hayden Hodgson and Dennis Gilbert just under seven minutes into the second period. Utica’s win was fueled by a Xavier Parent hat trick, a three-assist night from Topias Vilen, and a 27-save shutout by Jakub Malek. Going into tonight’s matchup, Belleville still holds the sixth spot in the North with a 21-27-8-0 record for 50 points, six points behind the Rochester Americans, who hold the final spot (with four games in hand). As they continue to face an uphill climb towards the postseason, the Sens will first have to find their form against the Comets, also taking the edge in their 10-game season series with Utica.

Previous History

The series between these two is now even for Belleville at 3-3-0-0, as the season series now shrinks to four games left on the year. With the loss on Saturday, the Comets have now tied Belleville in the goal category, sitting at 20-20 in this series, and have outshot the Senators 175-152. The all-time record now sits at 26-21-5-0, still in favour of Belleville, with the last five seasons holding well for the Senators at 16-13-5-0.

Roster Notes

On the roster side, there are no changes to take note of for the Belleville Senators. Forward Keean Washkurak returned to the lineup Saturday night after serving his six-game suspension. Washkurak recorded one shot on goal while finishing as a plus-one. On the injury side, forward Phil Daoust is not on the trip for Belleville and joins an injured list that also still includes forward Jan Jenik, defenceman Cam Crotty, and goaltender Hunter Shepard. Full roster and lineup details will be available closer to puck drop on the Sens’ social media channels (@BellevilleSens).

Who to Watch

Though he was held pointless in Saturday’s contest, Landen Hookey has played very well against the Comets this season. In the six meetings so far, Hookey has quietly put up three goals and one assist for four points. In his rookie year, the Sarnia, Ontario, product has recorded four goals and eight points in 41 games, serving as an effective piece in the bottom six. Carrying a physical presence but also a cheery mood in the locker room, Hookey will be one to follow as he looks to continue his success against Utica tonight.

Leading by example is exactly what Comets captain Ryan Schmelzer has been doing lately to bring some success in Utica. On one of his better runs as of late, Schmelzer’s production has seen a resurgence with five points in his last five games, with two coming against the Senators. By his standards, the 32-year-old is having a down year with only 17 points in 53 games compared to his previous year’s total of 44, so this recent stretch has been a welcome sight. For a team that tends not to score much this season, Schmelzer’s uptick could signify more for a Comets team that is hoping to extend its current three-game winning streak to four tonight.

Follow the Action:

Puck drop tonight is set for 7:00 p.m. ET from Adirondack Bank Center in Utica, New York. Broadcast coverage begins at 6:50 p.m. with David Foot and Tyler King, 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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