game day Share this Game Day Build-Up: Belleville Sens slide into Syracuse for two games against North-leading Crunch February 2, 2024 Belleville Sens Game Day Build-Up Feb.2/24 @ Syracuse Crunch (NHL Affiliate: Tampa Bay Lightning) The Set-Up: Another new month begins and the Belleville Senators (18-17-2-3) are still on the road, but just for two more games, as they begin a back-to-back set against Syracuse Crunch (24-13-2-2) at Upstate Medical University Arena tonight. January saw the Senators pick up nine points but slip down the North Division standings as a handful of opponents, including the Crunch, went on solid runs. Despite that drop, the Sens are still just one point from a playoff spot and three points back of third place, which would keep them out of the dreaded “play-in” round of the postseason. Belleville is coming off a trip to Grand Rapids, where they were beaten twice by the Griffins last weekend, while Syracuse won their last game, 2-1 in Rochester this past Wednesday. Previous History: This is the second of eight meetings between Belleville and Syracuse this season, the first of four meetings this month and the 34th matchup all-time. Belleville earned a shootout win at CAA Arena, when the two clubs met back in November and hold a 14-15-2-2 record against the Crunch over their lifetime. In Syracuse, the Senators are 3-9-2-1 all-time. Roster Notes: After a quiet week with little to no transactions, there are a few roster updates to pass along today. The Ottawa Senators made a goaltender swap just ahead of the NHL All-Star Break, sending Mads Sogaard back to the AHL while recalling Kevin Mandolese from Belleville. Forward Rourke Chartier was also returned to Belleville and is expected to join the Club next week. The Senators also assigned rookie forward Oskar Petterson to Belleville, after the soon-to-be 20-year-old started the season with Rogle BK in Sweden. Petterson, who has represented Sweden at the World Under 18 Championship and twice at the World Junior Hockey Championship, was selected by Ottawa in the third round of the 2022 NHL Draft. Who to Watch: Belleville’s All-Star forward Angus Crookshank has retaken the team lead in scoring, after a three-point performance (two goals, one assist) last Saturday in Grand Rapids. The North Vancouver, BC native now has 27 points (13 goals, 14 assists) in 33 games this season. Fellow forward Matt Highmore also had a three-point night (one goal, two assists) on Saturday in Grand Rapids, while Garrett Pilon has three assists over his last four games. Crunch rookie forward Walterri Mrela brings a six-game point streak (five goals, three assists) into tonight’s game, while Cole Koepke has points in five straight games (two goals, three assists). Goaltender Hugo Alnefelt has also picked up five straight wins stopping 135 of 145 shots, including 22 of 23 in Wednesday’s win over Rochester. 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: Today’s game starts at 7:00 p.m. (ET) and can be seen on AHL TV and heard on the Belleville Sens Entertainment Network. Pregame coverage from Upstate Medical University Arena, in Syracuse, New York, begins at 6:50 p.m. (ET) with David Foot. The full 2023-24 Belleville Senators regular season schedule can be found by clicking here. — Visit the Belleville Sens website: www.bellevillesens.com Engage with the Belleville Sens on X: @BellevilleSens Like the Belleville Sens on Facebook: www.facebook.com/BellevilleSens Follow the Belleville Sens on Instagram: @BellevilleSens
