Game Day Build-Up: Belleville Sens settle into Springfield for next test against T-Birds

Belleville Senators Game Day Build-Up
Apr.11/25 @ Springfield Thunderbirds (NHL Affiliate: St. Louis Blues)

The Set Up:

The Belleville Senators’ five-game road stretch and chase for a Calder Cup Playoff berth both continue tonight as they ride into Springfield, Massachusetts, to finish their two-game season set with the Thunderbirds. The Senators are feeling confident after their 4-2 comeback win in Rochester on Wednesday, which saw them score four times in the third period. However, they’re also aware that a significant test still lies ahead. The Senators enter play tonight with five games remaining and are trailing the Toronto Marlies by four points for the final playoff spot in the North Division. Toronto is off tonight but plays Saturday and Sunday against Cleveland, so a Belleville win tonight and tomorrow, plus a pair of Toronto losses, put the Sens back in fifth by the end of the weekend. But Belleville has to take it one game at a time, and tonight, it’s a tilt with the T-Birds, who have already booked their postseason ticket and are battling for position in the competitive Atlantic Division.

Previous History:

The Thunderbirds have proven to be a difficult opponent for the Senators since moving to Belleville in 2017-18. Through 14 lifetime meetings with the T-Birds, the B-Sens are 3-10-1-0 and 0-6-0-0 at the MassMutual Center in Springfield. However, the Senators have the lead in the brief two-game season series between these Eastern Conference foes, knocking off the Thunderbirds 5-2 at CAA Arena back in December.

Roster Notes: 

There have been no additions to the Top Pick Painters Transaction Report as of this morning, though forward Angus Crookshank remains on recall with Ottawa, who play the Montreal Canadiens tonight at Canadian Tire Centre. Injury-wise, Belleville will again be without defenceman Max Guenette, forward Zack MacEwen, and goaltender Mads Sogaard. Forward Jake Chiasson remains with the club after being reassigned from Orlando (ECHL) last week. You can click here for a full list of up-to-date transactions, with full lineup details ahead of game time via the Belleville Sens social channels (@BellevilleSens).

Who to Watch:

Senators forward Keean Washkurak will be in the spotlight tonight as returns to the city where he played the first three seasons of his AHL career. The 23-year-old from Waterloo, Ontario scored an empty net goal on Wednesday in Rochester, his 10th goal of the season, and is having his best season statistically since his first in Springfield. Washkurak’s 18 points this season (10 goals, eight assists) have him just five points off the career high of 23 (13 goals, 10 assists) set in 2021-22. He’s played all but one game for the Senators in his first year with Belleville. Meanwhile, captain Garrett Pilon and rookie forward Stephen Halliday each had a goal and an assist on Wednesday in Rochester.

The Thunderbirds are led offensively by a former Belleville Senator. Veteran forward Matthew Peca has 62 points (32 goals, 30 assists) over 65 games with the Thunderbirds this season. The 31-year-old from Petawawa, Ontario dressed in 21 games for Belleville in the 2020-21 season registering 11 points (three goals, eight assists). He also suited up in 14 NHL games for the Ottawa Senators and had three assists over that span, which stretched from the 2019-20 season through to 2020-21. The Thunderbirds have another Belleville connection as well, in winger Matt Luff, who was drafted by the Belleville Bulls and had 31 points (nine goals, 22 assists) in 64 games in the Friendly City before the Ontario Hockey League club moved to Hamilton.

Follow the Action:

Puck drop tonight is set for 7:05 p.m. ET from MassMutual Center in Springfield, Massachusetts. Broadcast coverage begins at 6:55 p.m. ET with David Foot and can be seen on AHLTV on FloHockey or heard free on the Belleville Sens Entertainment Network.

Ticket Info:

Tickets for the final Belleville Sens home game of the season, on Saturday April 19, 2025 against the Laval Rocket, are available via Ticketmaster, or by emailing tickets@bellevillesens.com. Hours for the Belleville Sens Box Office at CAA Arena are available here.

2025-26 Season Seat Memberships are on sale now by contacting the Belleville Sens office at 613-967-8067, emailing tickets@bellevillesens.com, or visiting the Belleville Sens website.  Fans who renew or purchase a season seat membership before May 2 are entered into our ’26 Days of Gifting’ contest, with daily draws for great prizes. Plus, all new and renewed season seat members will have a chance to ‘Shoot to Win’ $1,000 off their seats at a special event on May 15, 2025.

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