Game Day Build-Up: Belleville Sens host Marlies for Valentine’s Day Battle of Ontario matchup

Belleville Senators Game Day Build-Up
Feb.14/25 vs Toronto Marlies (NHL Affiliate: Toronto Maple Leafs)

The Set Up:

It might be the “Day of Love” but there isn’t much of that expected between opponents tonight as the Belleville Senators and Toronto Marlies renew their American Hockey League Battle of Ontario series at CAA Arena. Both teams are coming off Wednesday night action, with the Senators trouncing the North Division-leading Laval Rocket 5-0, at Canadian Tire Centre where their NHL parent club calls home, and the Marlies a 5-4 overtime win against another division rival from Syracuse. It’s another chance for Belleville to prove it belongs among the contenders in the North, despite the fact the Senators sit sixth in the division, and five points back of the playoff cutline, and claim provincial bragging rights while continuing a climb up the ladder.

Previous History: 

Tonight’s matchup is the sixth of 10 in the 2024-25 Battle of Ontario, which has been a tight and competitive series to this point. Belleville is 2-2-1-0 against Toronto this season, with both wins coming in shootouts, and all but one game in the season series so far have been decided by one goal. Lifetime against Toronto the Senators hold a 39-34-2-5 record, and a record of 18-19-0-3 on home ice. Keean Washkurak has been Belleville’s post productive player against the Marlies this season, with three points (one goal, two assists) in five games.

Roster Notes: 

With the National Hockey League continuing on its Four Nations Face-Off break there have been no transactions between Belleville and Ottawa between Wednesday and this morning. Forward Hayden Hodgson missed Wednesday’s game against Laval, in Ottawa, but is expected back in the lineup tonight against Toronto. Belleville’s injured list currently includes goaltenders Malcolm Subban and Mads Sogaard, and forward Tyler Boucher. You can click here for a full list of up-to-date transactions, with lineup details available via the B-Sens social channels (@bellevillesens), ahead of game time.

Who to Watch:

Four Senators come into tonight’s contest with points in back-to-back games. They include, defencemen Jeremy Davies (two assists) and Donovan Sebrango (two goals), and forwards Angus Crookshank (three assists), and Jamieson Rees (one goal, one assists), who all found the scoresheet last Saturday in Utica and Wednesday against Laval. Additionally on Wednesday, forward Stephen Halliday recorded his sixth multi-point game of the season with a pair of goals, while veteran forward Sam Gagner notched his first multi-point game as a Senators with a couple of assists.

Two Marlies players are coming off two-point nights against Syracuse on Wednesday, including Joseph Blandisi (one goal, one assist), and Kyle Clifford (two assists). Fellow forward Alex Steeves has been the hottest Marlies player against Belleville this season registering five points (two goals, three assists) in four games. He also sits tied for fifth in points in the AHL (41), but comes into tonight’s game pointless in his last two outings.

Follow the Action:

Puck drop tonight is set for 7:00 p.m. ET from CAA Arena in Belleville, Ontario. Broadcast coverage begins at 6:50 p.m. ET with David Foot and Tim Durkin, and can be seen on AHLTV on FloHockey or heard free on the Belleville Sens Entertainment Network.

Ticket Info:

Tickets for all Belleville Sens home games through the 2024-25 season are now on sale via Ticketmaster, or by emailing tickets@bellevillesens.com. Hours for the Belleville Sens Box Office at CAA Arena are available here.

Fans can click the following links for more information on becoming a season seat member, purchasing a flex pack membership, or putting down a deposit for a group experience. For more details on those ticket options, plus details on premium seating and Business Elite packages, visit the Belleville Sens website or email tickets@bellevillesens.com.

The full Belleville Sens 2024-25 regular season schedule is available here. 

About the Belleville Senators

The Belleville Senators are the American Hockey League affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Ottawa Senators and have been operating in the AHL since the 2017-18 season. The Senators play their home games out of the CAA Arena at the Quinte Sports and Wellness Centre and have graduated more than 60 players to the NHL since moving from Binghamton, New York.

—

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
Watch the Belleville Sens on AHLTV on FloHockey: www.watchtheahl.com