Game Day Build-Up: Senators vs Islanders – November 13, 2021

Presented by Carpenters Union Local 397

The Set-Up:

A busy stretch of games continues tonight for the Belleville Senators as they welcome the Bridgeport Islanders for their only visit this season to CAA Arena. The Senators are coming off a 2-0 loss to the Rocket in Laval on Wednesday and will try to spark their offence, though the lineup will look substantially different due to COVID-19 issues and injuries in Ottawa. The Islanders, previously known as the Sound Tigers, are the American Hockey League Affiliate of the New York Islanders and went through a rebranding at the start of the season. Bridgeport has points in its last three games, including a pair of wins against Hartford and Syracuse, along with a 5-4 overtime loss in Laval on Friday night.

The Senators will also hold Military Appreciation Night on Saturday, honouring the men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces, and their families.

Previous History:

The all-time history between Belleville and Bridgeport isn’t all that deep, with the two teams only meeting six times since the Senators moved to The Friendly City in 2017-18. Belleville has a 2-4-0-0 record against Bridgeport, with identical 1-2-0-0 records at home and on the road. The return leg of the two-game season series goes back in Bridgeport on December 12, 2021.

Roster Notes:

The Senators roster has been in a state of daily flux throughout the week as the parent club in Ottawa deals with several COVID-19 cases and some injuries. Cody Goloubef, Chaz Reddekopp, Cole Fraser and Blake Siebenaler have all been added to the Belleville roster through professional tryouts, with the potential for more moves still possible. Given the fluidity of the situation, more information on tonight’s lineup will be available closer to puck drop.

Who to Watch:

A couple of Senators will return to the lineup from injuries tonight, just in time to help fill some of the gaps left by the call-ups to Ottawa. Forwards Philippe Daoust and Tyrell Goulbourne will both draw back in and look to get back up to speed. Mark Kastelic will be another player to watch tonight, though he was held pointless on Wednesday in Laval. The Phoenix, Arizona native has four points (three goals, one assist) in his last give games.

For Bridgeport, Otto Koivula is among the league’s top scorers, tied for fifth with 12 points (two goals, 10 assists). Goaltender Jakub Skarek is third in saves with 244, he’s also fourth in minutes played with 508:47. Defenceman Robin Salo is tied for fourth in defensive scoring. The Islanders also boast some familiar names, with NHL fans likely recognizing the team’s other goaltender Corey Schneider, who played in 409 NHL games with New Jersey, and Vancouver. Local fans may also remember Richard Panik, who suited up in 54 games for the Belleville Bulls between 2009 and 2011.

Where to Watch:

Tonight’s game starts at 7:00 p.m. ET and can be heard on the Belleville Sens official broadcast partner 800 AM CJBQ, with Jack Miller and David Foot (Broadcast time is 6:50 p.m.). The game can also be streamed live on AHL TV.

Don’t forget to download the Belleville Senators app before game time and follow the Sens social media for updates.

Ticket info:

Single game tickets for the 2021-22 Belleville Senators season are now on sale and can be purchased via Ticketmaster, by stopping by the CAA Arena Box Office. Season Ticket Memberships and Flex Packs are also available with more information available at bellevillesens.com.