Game Day Build-Up: Belleville Sens look for repeat performance in Rochester

Belleville Sens Game Day Build-Up
Feb.23/24 @ Rochester Americans (NHL Affiliate: Buffalo Sabres)

The Set-Up:

After a convincing 4-1 victory over the Rochester Americans on Wednesday and a day off to on the road to recharge, the Belleville Senators return to the Blue Cross Arena tonight looking to complete a two-game sweep of the Amerks, as their three-game New York State road trip continues. The Senators were clearly the better team mid-week, with Rourke Chartier, Angus Crookshank, Josh Currie, and Garrett Pilon all scoring and Mads Sogaard stopping 27 of 28 shots to seal the win, in a game that saw Belleville use its size and strength to slow down a speedy Rochester offence. The Sens will have to be prepared for a pushback tonight from the Amerks, who are celebrating their annual Hall of Fame Game and can surely feel the Sens breathing down their necks, as they sit just one point back in the North Division standings.

Previous History:

Belleville has picked up at least a point in all three matchups with Rochester this season skating to a 2-0-0-1 record, with a win and shootout loss at home, in addition to Wednesday’s win. The Senators should have some confidence coming into Blue Cross Arena again, where they hold a record of 12-5-1-0. Lifetime against the Amerks, Belleville is 21-10-5-1.

Roster Notes:

Another transaction-free day means the only lineup changes will be the swap out of players under the AHL’s development rule, should Coach Dave Bell decide to make any changes. Full lineup details, including tonight’s alignment, will be available ahead of puck drop.

Who to Watch:

Angus Crookshank continues to be the hottest Senator of late, extending his point streak to six games (four goals, five assists) by scoring the game-winner on Wednesday. Crookshank has also found the scoresheet 12 times over his last 14 games, putting up nine goals and eight assists over that span. Meanwhile, defender Max Guenette has picked up an assist in each of his last four games, while rookie forward Zack Ostapchuk is on the first three-game point streak (two goals, one assist) of his AHL career. Matt Highmore has points in back-to-back games and would have been on a four-game point streak, but had an assist removed from the game last week at home to Toronto, following a scoring change.

Speedy Amerks’ forward Mason Jobst has points in back-to-back games, scoring against Toronto on Monday and then again against Belleville on Wednesday. Fellow speedster Linus Weissbach has been the most productive Americans’ player against Belleville this season, notching three points (one goal, two assists) in three games against the Sens so far on the campaign.

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. Tickets can also be purchased 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 7:10 p.m. (ET) and can be seen on AHL TV and heard on the Belleville Sens Entertainment Network. Pregame coverage from Blue Cross Arena, in Rochester, New York, begins at 7:00 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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