game day Share this Game Day Build-Up: Sens begin Upstate New York swing with visit to Rochester December 30, 2022 Presented by Carpenters Union Local 397 Dec.30/22 @ Rochester Americans (NHL Affiliate: Buffalo Sabres) The Set-Up: As the end of 2022 approaches, the Belleville Senators begin an important weekend as they try to pick up some crucial mid-season points in the AHL North Division standings. Coming off a pair of losses to the Toronto Marlies this week, including a 4-2 defeat at home on Wednesday, the Sens begin a four-game road trip in Upstate New York tonight against the Rochester Americans, who are trending in the opposite direction. The Amerks have won four straight games, beating Toronto, Charlotte twice and Utica, and sit six points ahead of Belleville for second in the division. Previous History: Tonight’s matchup is the third-of-eight meetings between the Sens and Amerks in this season, with the season series tied 1-1. The home team has won each game so far in extra time, with Rochester earning a 4-3 overtime win on October 19 and Belleville picking up a 3-2 win in a shootout on November 12. In 28 lifetime meetings against the Amerks, the Sens are 15-9-4-0 and 9-4-1-0 in 14 trips to Blue Cross Arena. Roster Notes: There are a couple of changes to Belleville’s lineup tonight. Captain Dillon Heatherington is returning from the NHL and will rejoin the Sens in time for tonight’s matchup, while forward Matthew Boucher will draw back in for Joe Carroll. Mads Sogaard is expected to make his fifth start in goal and will be backed up by Antoine Bibeau. Forwards Jake Lucchini and Rourke Chariter are all still up in the NHL with Ottawa. As is defenceman Jacob Bernard-Docker, who returned to the NHL parent club’s lineup last night after an injury layoff. Injury Report: # Name Pos. Last Game Games Missed Timeline Notes 7 Viktor Lodin LW Dec.7/22 @ TOR 7 Week-to-Week Upper Body 10 Philippe Daoust C Nov.23/22 @ UTI 13 Season Ending Shoulder 19 Cory Conacher RW Nov.5/22 vs TOR 19 Indefinite Undisclosed 33 Lassi Thomson D Dec.21/22 vs WBS 2 Week-to-Week N/A 34 Roby Jarventie LW Oct.29/22 @ RFD 20 Week-to-week Knee Who to Watch: Belleville goaltender Mads Sogaard has been rounding into form since his 10-game injury layoff. The Great Dane has made four straight starts and stopped 120 of 131 shots over that span, and has made some crucial saves to keep the Sens in games. Up front, forward Jarid Lukosevicius had a goal and an assist, along with five shots on goal on Wednesday, in his return from a two-game suspension. There will likely be some focus on the Rochester crease as well, with former Belleville Bulls netminder Malcolm Subban being the likely Amerks starter. The 29-year-old has won all four games on Rochester’s recent streak and has a 6-2-0 record since returning from an early-season injury of his own. Offensively, Brandon Biro is riding a five-game point streak (three goals, seven assists) and has a goal and an assist in each of his last two games. Follow the action: Tonight’s game can be seen on AHL TV or heard live on the Belleville Sens Entertainment Network. Pregame coverage starts 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. — Visit the Belleville Sens website: www.bellevillesens.com Engage with the Belleville Sens on Twitter: @BellevilleSens Like the Belleville Sens on Facebook: www.facebook.com/BellevilleSens Follow the Belleville Sens on Instagram: @BellevilleSens Listen to the Belleville Sens on Mixlr: www.bellevillesens.mixlr.com
