Share this Game Day Build-Up: Sens welcome Pens for Holiday Celebration Game December 21, 2022 Dec.21/22 vs Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (NHL Affiliate: Pittsburgh Penguins) Presented by Carpenters Union Local 397 The Set-Up: The Belleville Senators 2022 holiday break is finally here, but the team has some business to take care of, before heading off to see their families. After gaining one point from two games in Winnipeg last weekend, the Senators look to gift themselves a couple of points at home tonight, as they welcome the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins to CAA Arena. While the Senators will get some well-earned time off following tonight’s game, the same can’t be said for the Penguins, who are amid a three-game Canadian road trip and are coming off a 5-2 loss in Toronto yesterday. Previous History: The Penguins are among the least-played opponents in Belleville Sens history, with the two teams only meeting four times previously. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton has had the upper hand in the lifetime series, keeping Belleville to a 1-3-0-0 record overall and 0-2-0-0 at CAA Arena. The Senators only win against the Penguins came in their last meeting, on February 11, 2022, when Belleville picked up a 2-1 win. Roster Notes: Belleville will get some slight reinforcements up front, as the Ottawa Senators have returned forward Jake Lucchini from the National Hockey League on Wednesday morning. The Trail, BC native was called up last week and made his NHL debut against the Montreal Canadiens. Despite Lucchini’s return, fellow forward Rourke Chartier and captain Dillon Heatherington remain with the big club. Belleville’s healthy scratches include forwards Matt Boucher and Joe Carroll. Injury Report: No. Name Pos. Last Game Games Missed Timeline Notes 7 Viktor Lodin LW Dec.7/22 @ TOR 4 Week-to-Week Upper Body 10 Philippe Daoust C Nov.23/22 @ UTI 10 Season Ending Shoulder 19 Cory Conacher RW Nov.5/22 vs TOR 16 Indefinite Undisclosed 34 Roby Jarventie LW Oct.29/22 @ RFD 17 Week-to-week Knee 48 Jonathan Aspirot D Offseason Surgery 26 Week-to-week Shoulder Who to Watch: Belleville Sens forward Angus Crookshank has moved up to 12th in AHL rooking scoring with 18 points and is just four points back of the leader, Sammy Walker of the Iowa Wild. The 23 year-old from North Vancouver, BC is also second in rookie power play goals (5), one back of Walker and second in rookie shots on goal (77), one back of Daniil Gushchin, of the San Jose Barracuda. The Penguins lineup boasts a number of familiar names, including goaltender Dustin Tokarski, whose 2.11 goals against average has him ranked third in the AHL. His partner Filip Lindberg, who was signed by Pittsburgh to an entry level contract over the offseason, is 10th in GAA (2.11). Up front, the Pens are led by 24 year-old, former first round draft pick Alexander Nylander, who has 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists). Fellow Swede Fillip Hallander, Pittsburgh’s second round pick in 2018, also has 20 points (seven goals, 13 assists). 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 6:45p.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. — 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
