Game Day Build-Up: B-Sens begin three-game road trip in Toronto as playoff chase continues

Belleville Sens Game Day Build-Up
Apr.10/24 @ Toronto Marlies (NHL Affiliate: Toronto Maple Leafs)            

The Set-Up/Playoff Picture:

The Belleville Senators are down to their final six-game stretch of the 2023-24 regular season, and they still control their playoff fate, as they embark on a three-game road trip that will stop in Toronto tonight and Rochester later this week. The B-Sens have won three games in a row, including back-to-back home ice victories over Springfield and North-leading Syracuse last weekend and enter this week still tied with Laval for the division’s final playoff spot. They’re also just three points back of tonight’s opponent, the Toronto Marlies, who are battling for seeding and trying to fight their way into the division’s top three, behind Syracuse (1^st), Rochester (2^nd), and Cleveland (3^rd). The full playoff picture can be found via the American Hockey League’s Playoff Primer.

Previous History:

Tonight’s game concludes the 10-game regular season series between Belleville and Toronto, with the Senators already winning the season series on points, currently holding a 5-3-0-1 record. Belleville went 3-1-0-1 over five home games against the Marlies this season, with a 2-2-0-0 record so far at the Coca-Cola Coliseum. Over 75-lifetime meetings with the Marlies, the Senators are 36-32-2-4, with an all-time road record of 19-14-2-1. Despite winning more games in the season series, Belleville has been outscored by Toronto 28-25 over their first nine games of the campaign.

Roster Notes:

There have been no transactions for the Senators since Saturday’s win over Syracuse, though a handful of B-Sens players still remain with the NHL club in Ottawa. Boko Imama, Jiri Smejkal, Angus Crookshank, and Matt Highmore are all among the players who have dressed for Belleville this season but are currently on recall. A complete list of recent transactions can be found here. Belleville’s injured list just includes Tyler Boucher, Phil Daoust, and Roby Jarventie, who are all out long-term. Full lineup details, including tonight’s alignment, will be available prior to puck drop via the B-Sens social media channels (@BellevilleSens).

Who to Watch:

Two B-Sens players are carrying three-game point streaks into the week, including Cole Reinhardt (two goals, two assists) who was a key factor in Belleville’s offence last weekend, and Nikolas Matinpalo (three assists), who is on his first career AHL point streak. Additionally, Zack Ostapchuk (two goals, two assists), fellow rookie Stephen Halliday (two assists), and Garrett Pilon (two goals, one assist) all have points in back-to-back games. Egor Sokolov has been Belleville’s most productive player in the season series with Toronto, notching 11 points (three goals, eight assists) in nine games against the Marlies this season.

Forward Joseph Blandisi continues to pace the Toronto attack of late, finding the scoresheet in four consecutive games (two goals, two assists), including a goal and four shots on net in Toronto’s last game against Utica. Goaltender Dennis Hildeby has also earned back-to-back wins, while Kyle Clifford has been the most dangerous player for Toronto against Belleville, with eight points (two goals, six assists) in eight games.

Ticket info:

Tickets for tonight’s game and all Belleville Sens home games for the remainder of the 2023-24 season are now on sale online, via Ticketmaster, by visiting the Belleville Sens Box Office at the Quinte Sports & Wellness Centre, or by emailing tickets@bellevillesens.com. Box Office hours are available by clicking here.

Fans can also click the following links for more information on season seat memberships, flex packs, group experiences or Business Elite memberships, or send an email to tickets@bellevillesens.com.

Follow the action:

Tonight’s game starts at 7:00 p.m. (ET) and can be seen on AHL TV, or heard free on the Belleville Sens Entertainment Network, with pregame coverage on both platforms beginning at 6:50 p.m. (ET), from Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto, Ontario with David Foot. Fans who subscribe to the NHL Network can also catch the game there, beginning at 7:00 p.m. (ET).

The full 2023-24 Belleville Senators regular season schedule can be found by clicking here.

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