Game Day Build-Up: B-Sens travel to Laval for two big games against Rocket

Belleville Sens Game Day Build-Up
Mar.29/24 @ Laval Rocket (NHL Affiliate: Montreal Canadiens)                 

The Set-Up/Playoff Picture:

Just 10 games remain in the 2023-24 American Hockey League regular season and the Belleville Senators are narrowly outside the playoff places in the North Division, but well within striking distance. The B-Sens stare down the playoff stretch drive just two points back of the Laval Rocket, as they begin a two-game set with the Rocket on the road at Place Bell tonight. Belleville could not only leapfrog Laval with a pair of wins this weekend but, also get some payback, after the Rocket swept two games at CAA Arena a week ago. The Senators then fell to Hartford at home last Sunday, while Laval picked up a Sunday win in Toronto, before losing in Utica this past Wednesday. The full playoff picture can be found via the American Hockey League’s Playoff Primer.

Previous History:

This will be the ninth time Belleville and Laval have faced each other this season and the fourth at Place Bell. The B-Sens are 3-4-1-0 against the Rocket this season and 1-2-0-0 in Laval. Defenceman Tyler Kleven has been the B-Sens best offensive player against the Rocket, collecting seven points (two goals, five assists) in seven contests, while Laval’s leading scorer Brandon Gignac has led them in the season series, with eight points (four goals, four assists) in eight games. Belleville has a lifetime record of 41-31-2-3 against Laval, with an 18-18-1-0 mark on the road. The B-Sens and Rocket will meet three more times over the next 10 games. A rematch tomorrow afternoon in Laval and then again, with a home-and-home series to conclude the regular season, on April 19 in Belleville and April 20 in Laval.

Roster Notes:

The Belleville Sens will be without season series scoring leader Tyler Kleven, after the rookie defenceman was recalled to the National Hockey League by Ottawa on Thursday morning. It’s the second NHL recall this season for the Fargo, North Dakota native who played just over 14 minutes for the NHL Sens in their 2-0 win at home to Chicago Thursday night. There were no other transactions reported as of Friday morning. A full list of recent transactions can be found here. 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:

Wyatt Bongiovanni is settling into the Friendly City and had a productive weekend at home last weekend, picking up his first two goals as a member of the Senators. The native of Birmingham, MI has notched 10 goals this season, to go along with seven assists. Meanwhile Garrett Pilon, who had an assist on Sunday against Hartford, has picked up six points (two goals, four assists) in five games against Laval this season. He also has seven points (three goals, four assists) over his last five games played. Defender Max Guenette has also registered six points (one goal, five assists) against Laval this season, over eight games.

Rocket forward Mitchell Stephens is on a three-game point streak, with the Peterborough, ON native collecting four assists over that span. Forward Gabriel Bourque has points in back-to-back games (one goal, one assist), while recently acquired forward Jacob Perrault scored his first goal as a member of the Rocket on Wednesday. Brandon Gignac is Laval’s leading scorer with 54 points (18 goals, 36 assists) in 58 games this season, while also picking up eight points (four goals, four assists) in eight games against Belleville this season.

Ticket info:

Tickets for all Belleville Sens home games for the remainder of the 2023-24 season are now on sale online, via Ticketmaster or the Belleville Sens Ticket Hub, 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 FREE on AHL TV, as the featured matchup for the AHL TV Freeview. Audio coverage can be heard on the Belleville Sens Entertainment Network. Pregame coverage on both platforms begins from Place Bell, in Laval, Quebec, at 6:50 p.m. (ET) with David Foot.

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

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