Game Day Build-Up: Belleville Sens begin three-game Atlantic swing in Bridgeport

Presented by Carpenters Union Local 397
Feb.23/23 @ Bridgeport Islanders (NHL Affiliate: New York Islanders)

The Set-Up:

After a successful four-game homestand that saw them go 3-1-0-0 at CAA Arena, the Belleville Senators will spend the rest of February on the road, with a three-game Atlantic Division road trip that begins tonight in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The Senators take on the Islanders for the first time this season, looking to rebound from a decisive loss to Laval on Family Day. The Isles should prove to be a good test, as they’ve won three straight games but have struggled at home recently, posting a 2-7-1-0 record at Total Mortgage Arena over their last 10 games.

Previous History:

This is just the ninth ever meeting between Belleville and Bridgeport, with the Senators skating to a 4-4-0-0 record against the Islanders, since moving from Binghamton in 2017-18. The home/away records are split evenly as well, as the Senators are 2-2-0-0 at both CAA Arena and Total Mortgage Arena over the course of their lifetime series. Belleville had the upper hand in 2021-22, winning both home and away matchups by 3-2 scorelines.

Roster Notes:

The Senators have added two players on professional tryout offers ahead of Tonight’s matchup in Bridgeport. Forward Mitchell Heard signed a PTO Thursday morning, as did goaltender Luke Richardson. Heard, who has just under 200 AHL games on his resume, will slot in for Brennan Saulnier, who isn’t on this trip after injuring his jaw earlier in the week. Richardson joins the Sens from Queen’s University and will back up Kevin Mandolese, with both Logan Flodell and Antoine Bibeau back in Belleville and Mads Sogaard still in Ottawa. Xavier Bernard and Kristians Rubins will be the healthy scratches for David Bell, that are on the trip.

Injury Report:

Who to Watch:

Belleville forward Roby Jarventie has been rounding into form after missing more than 30 games due to an injury earlier in the season. The 20-year-old Finn is riding a 4-game point streak coming into tonight (four goals, two assists) and has recorded back-to-back two-goal games. Fellow forward Mark Kastelic is on a three-game point streak (four assists) and had six shots on goal Monday as he works himself back into Belleville’s lineup after playing the majority of this season in the NHL.

Islanders’ all-star rookie forward Ruslan Ishakov is on a three-game opint streak (two goals, five assists), including a goal and an assist in Bridgeport’s last game on Sunday, against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Meanwhile, defender Samuel Bolduc has four points in his last three games (one goal, three assists). The 22-year-old, former 2nd-round NHL draft pick, had an assist in Bridgeport’s last game, following a three-point performance (one goal, two assists) in the game before.

Follow the action:

Tonight’s game can be seen on AHL TV or heard live on the Belleville Sens Entertainment Network. Pregame coverage from Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut, begins at 6:45 p.m. (ET) with David Foot.

Ticket info:

Tickets for all Belleville Sens home games are available via Ticketmaster or at the CAA Arena Box Office, with more information on group experiences, promotional packs and more, available on the Belleville Sens website.

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