game day Share this Game Day Build-Up: Senators return to Cleveland for first time since last season’s playoffs February 23, 2025 Belleville Senators Game Day Build-Up Feb.23/25 @ Cleveland Monsters (Columbus Blue Jackets) The Set Up: The road has not been a friendly place for the Belleville Senators since the calendar turned, but they’ll have to dig in and start picking up points away from home, as they did early in the season, if they want to push back into the North Division playoff picture. The Senators are now six points back of the Syracuse Crunch, with four games in hand as they begin the final leg of their week-long road trip in Cleveland against the Monsters this afternoon. The Sens and Monsters haven’t seen each other since their four-game North Division Semifinals series last May, and both teams are looking for some mid-season consistency after strong starts. The Senators are trying to snap an eight-game road losing skid and erase some bad memories from last May, while the Monsters were shut out in Rochester on Wednesday and trying to claw back past the Toronto Marlies into the division’s top three. Previous History: As mentioned, this is the first time Belleville and Cleveland have met since last season’s Calder Cup Playoffs, when the Monsters eliminated the Sens from the North Division Semifinals in four games. Cleveland also had Belleville’s number in the regular season series last year, with the Senators going 1-3-0-0 against the Monsters in 2023/24. This afternoon’s game is the 29th all-time meeting between the two teams, with Belleville holding a lifetime record of 12-14-0-2 and 5-9-0-0 at the Rocket Arena in Cleveland. Roster Notes: Belleville Sens Head Coach Dave Bell says the lineup this morning is “fluid” ahead of a noon puck drop. There could be additions to the Belleville lineup as forwards Cole Reinhardt and Zack Ostapchuk were returned to the AHL from Ottawa over night. They may be game-time decisions due to today’s early start. Make sure to check in for fu lineup details ahead of game time via the Belleville Sens social channels (@BellevilleSens). You can also click here for a full list of up-to-date transactions. Who to Watch: A bustling ball of energy, Senators forward Jan Jenik had been silent over seven games since a return from a short injury layoff, but he got himself on the scoresheet with an assist on Friday night in Rochester. The 24-year-old from Czechia, acquired in a trade that sent Egor Sokolov to the Utah Hockey Club, has dealt with some injuries this season but has amassed 11 points (six goals, five assists) over his first 28 games as a Senator. And, even if he’s not scoring goals, watch for Jenik to be all over the ice, setting the tone with his physical play and creating chances with his playmaking abilities. The Monsters were shutout in Rochester earlier in the week, so don’t have any player coming into today’s game on current point streaks. That said, both Rocco Grimaldi (seventh) and Trey Fix-Wolansky (eighth) are among the top goal-scorers in the league, while goaltender Jet Greaves has the third-most saves in the AHL this season (870) and was excellent against the Senators last season. Greaves was 3-0-0 against Belleville in the 2023-24 regular season, and 3-1-0 against them in last year’s Calder Cup Playoffs. Follow the Action: Puck drop this afternoon is set for noon ET from Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. Broadcast coverage begins at 11:55 a.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 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
