Game Day Build-Up: Senators look to sink Syracuse in critical late-season matchup at CAA Arena

Belleville Senators Game Day Build-Up
Apr.2/25 vs Syracuse Crunch (NHL Affiliate: Tampa Bay Lightning)

The Set Up:

A day after April Fool’s Day and into the last month of the regular season, the Belleville Senators certainly aren’t joking around when it comes to their playoff hopes. The Senators continue their seven-game homestand at CAA Arena tonight, hosting the division-rival Syracuse Crunch in a game with major playoff implications, as the Sens enter the game trailing the Crunch by three points for the North’s final playoff spot. That means Belleville needs a win to get back within a point of the postseason, with just eight games remaining after tonight and no more opportunities to make up points directly against the three most likely reachable teams in the standings. The Crunch are trying to not only hang on to the fifth spot in the North but can get within a point of third if they win tonight, before an important home-and-home for them with the Toronto Marlies this coming weekend.

Previous History:

It’s been just about three months exactly since Belleville and Syracuse last clashed, with the Crunch edging the Senators 3-2 at Upstate Medical University Arena, on January 3, 2025. The Senators have struggled against Syracuse this season skating to a record of 2-4-0-1, after going 7-1-0-0 against the Crunch last season. Over their 48-game lifetime series, Belleville is 23-20-2-3 against Syracuse, with a 15-8-0-0 mark at CAA Arena.

Roster Notes: 

Senators forward Jamieson Rees returned from an injury layoff last Saturday against Toronto, leaving forward Zack MacEwen as the only player left currently on the Senators injury report. Transaction-wise, Angus Crookshank was recalled to Ottawa yesterday and dressed in the NHL Senators game against Buffalo, recording one shot on goal and one hit, over 8:22 of ice time. 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 Xavier Bourgault was the only Belleville player to score in regulation last Saturday against Toronto, potting his ninth goal and 20th point of the campaign. The 22-year-old from L’Islet, Quebec, is in his first year as a Senator after being acquired from Edmonton in a trade for Roby Jarventie last offseason. Bourgault was selected in the first round (22nd overall) by the Oilers in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. Meanwhile, defenceman Filip Roos has three assists over his last two games, and captain Garrett Pilon has been the most productive Senator against Syracuse this season, with eight points (one goal, seven assists) in seven games.

For Syracuse, forward Connor Geekie has been pacing the attack since joining the Crunch from their NHL parent club in Tampa Bay. The former 11th overall pick to the Arizona Coyotes in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft has pikce dup points in five consecutive games (four goals, two assists) to give him a total of 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) in 20 AHL games with Syracuse this season. In 49 NHL games with Tampa Bay this year, Geekie has 12 points (six goals, six assists). Derrick Pouliot has been the most dangerous Crunch player against Belleville this season with eight points (three goals, five assists) in seven games.

At the Rink:

With critical standings points on the line, tonight’s game should have the feel and intensity of a playoff contest, so make sure you’re at CAA Arena to help cheer the Senators on! CAA Arena gates will open at 6:00 p.m., with fans able to shop the latest styles from The Locker Room Store inside the Quinte Sports & Wellness Centre, or the Gate 2 Merchandise Stand.

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.

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