Game Day Build-Up: Sens homestand continues with visit from Monsters

Presented by Carpenters Union Local 397
Jan.13/23 vs Cleveland Monsters (NHL Affiliate: Columbus Blue Jackets)

The Set-Up:

Winners of three straight games and with points in their last four, the Belleville Senators continue a six-game homestand tonight, as they welcome the Cleveland Monsters to CAA Arena. The Sens are on one of their more consistent stretches of the season, which includes an overtime loss in Utica on New Year’s Eve and then wins over Rochester, Syracuse, and Manitoba last week, to kick off 2023. The Monsters, meanwhile, have also been consistent, but not in a good way. Cleveland has earned just five points out of their last 10 games, with that stretch including a season-long six-game skid. Most recently, Cleveland is coming off a 3-2 overtime loss at Utica on Wednesday night.

Previous History:

This will be the second of eight meetings between Belleville and Cleveland this season, with the Senators holding an early 1-0 lead in the season series, following an 8-7 shootout win at CAA Arena back in November. The Senators will visit the Monsters for a pair of games in February and again in March, with Cleveland coming back to the Friendly City in April. Lifetime against the Monsters, the Sens are 9-7-0-1, with a 5-3-0-1 mark at CAA Arena.

Roster Notes:

There’s just one change to the Belleville lineup following last week’s six-point sweep. Jayce Hawryluk returns from a three-game injury break and will replace Chad Yetman, who continues his PTO. Hawryluk will slot onto Belleville’s second line, alongside Kyle Betts and Angus Crookshank. Mads Sogaard returns between the pipes, backed up by Kevin Mandolese, who earned the win in Belleville’s last game. Jack Dougherty and Antoine Bibeau will be the Sens healthy scratches tonight.

Injury Report:

Who to Watch:

The American Hockey League announced the rosters for the 2023 All-Star Classic presented by Bell this week and Sens forward Egor Sokolov has been selected to make his first appearance. The 22-year-old from Yekaterinburg, Russia is playing in his third professional season and has registered 35 points (11 goals, 24 assists) in 34 games with Belleville so far this season. He currently leads the team in points (35), assists (24) and power play points (19). Sokolov, who sits 12^th in the AHL’s overall scoring race, had two assists last game.

19-year-old David Jiricek will be Cleveland’s representative at the All-Star Classic in Laval. The native of Klatovy, Czechia has 20 points (five goals, 15 assists) in 20 AHL games this season and returns tonight from the World Junior Hockey Championship in Halifax, where he had seven points (three goals, four assists) and earned a silver medal. Drafted by Columbus in the first round (sixth overall) in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, Jiricek sits 18^th in AHL rookie scoring and 16^th in defensive scoring, and has also dressed in a pair of NHL games for the Blue Jackets this season.

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 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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