Game Day Build-Up: Sens head back to Toronto looking for offensive spark

Dec.7/22 @ Toronto Marlies (NHL Affiliate: Toronto Maple Leafs)

Presented by Carpenters Union Local 397

The Set-Up:

It’s only been a couple of days since the Belleville Senators dropped a 3-1 decision to the Marlies in Toronto, to wrap up a tough three-game weekend, but the Sens are back at Coca-Cola Coliseum tonight and looking for a better result against their provincial rivals. Despite outshooting their last three opponents by a 110-94 margin, the Sens only scored nine times last weekend and will look to re-ignite the offensive spark that has them among the top-10 goal-scoring teams in the league. The Marlies are looking for some consistency after an eight-game point streak earlier in the season, as they haven’t won back-to-back games since early November.

Previous History:

The Senators enter game four of the 12-game season series trailing 2-1-0-0, with a 6-1 Belleville win on November 18, sandwiched between a pair of losses , including a 5-2 Marlies victory at CAA Arena on November 5, and Sunday’s 3-1 Sens defeat in Toronto.

Roster Notes:

There’s a bit of fluctuation in the Belleville lineup with a shuffle of roster moves. The Senators released forward Brandon Cutler from his professional tryout on Monday and reassigned defenceman Zachary Massicotte to the team’s ECHL affiliate in Allen, Texas. Meanwhile, a familiar face returns to Belleville as defender Jack Dougherty re-joins the team on a PTO, from the ECHL Orlando Solar Bears, where he had seven points (one goal, six assists) and a +3 rating in 19 games this season. There’s also some good news on the injury front, with Goaltender Mads Sogaard returning from a ten-game layoff. He’ll back up Antoine Bibeau, who starts in Toronto for the second straight game. Kyle Betts also returns, after missing nine games to injury.

Injury Report:

Who to Watch:

Senators defenceman Lassi Thomson has had assists in two-of-three games since returning from an NHL call-up to Ottawa. The smooth-skating, 22 year-old, Finnish first-rounder, has 12 points (three goals, nine assists) in 18 games with Belleville this season. Meanwhile, Jarid Lukosevicius was the only Sen to score on Sunday, notching his fifth of the season and fourth of the weekend.

Alex Steeves is one-of-two Marlies riding five game point streaks, with two goals, three assists over that span. The other is former Sens captain Logan Shaw, who has one goal, four assists and sits sixth in AHL scoring.

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 7:00 p.m. (ET) with David Foot and Joel Vanderlaan.

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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