Game Day Build-Up: Senators welcome Crunch to begin three-game North Division homestand

Belleville Sens Game Day Build-Up
Nov.8/23 vs Syracuse Crunch (NHL Affiliate: Tampa Bay Lightning)            

The Set-Up:

Back from their two-game trip to the Atlantic Division, the Belleville Senators return to the Friendly City for three matchups in the North Division this week. The Senators open the homestand by welcoming in the Syracuse Crunch for the first time this season, tonight on a Winning Wednesday at CAA Arena. After a Friday loss in Springfield, the Sens used a gutsy effort to split their weekend trip, getting a last-minute game tying goal from Garrett Pilon and another overtime winner from Jacob Larsson, to knock off the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. The Crunch have earned points in three straight games, with a pair of wins and most recently, a 5-4 shootout loss at home to Rochester last Saturday.

Previous History:

The Senators and Crunch will meet twice more in 2023-24 than they did last season, with tonight being the first of a total of eight contests between them. Last season, Belleville was 3-2-0-1 against the Crunch, with the Senators holding a 13-15-2-2 lifetime mark against Syracuse. At home in their lifetime, the Senators are 10-6-0-0 against their neighbours from just across the border.

Roster Notes:

First-year Senator Tarun Fizer suffered a slight knock over the weekend and will not be available for Belleville tonight and joins fellow forward Tyler Boucher in the injured list. With that in mind, forward Matthew Boucher was signed to a PTO this week, after putting up 12 points (seven goals, five assists) over eight ECHL games this season with the Trois-Rivieres Lions. Boucher also played one preseason game for Belleville this season, registering a goal and an assist, and suited up in 50 games for the Belleville Sens on a PTO in 2022-23, putting up 16 points (six goals, 10 assists). Mads Sogaard only played one-of-two games for Belleville last weekend, so he’ll likely get the start in net tonight. Full lineup details will be available prior to puck drop.

Who to Watch:

Forward Matthew Highmore extended his team-leading point streak to five games (two goals, four assists), with an assist in Wilkes-Barre last Saturday night. Angus Crookshank also stretched his point streak to three games (one goal, three assists), with a goal and a helper against the Penguins. Defenceman Jacob Larsson has made himself a player to watch as well, scoring his second overtime winning goal of the season against the Pens.

There are a couple of Crunch players who have been red hot since the season started, with Felix Robert registering 11 points (six goal, five assists), over an eight-game point streak. The 24-year-old from Lambton, Quebec has notched a point in all but one of Syracuse’s games this season. Gage Goncalves has points in four straight games (one goal, five assists), while Gabe Fortier (two goals, one assist), and Daniel Walcott (three goals), are each riding three-game point streaks coming into tonight.

At the rink:

Tonight’s is the second Winning Wednesday of the season, with fans encouraged to arrive early and take advantage of savings on food and drink including, $5 beer specials on domestic tall cans, $2 hot dogs and a two-for-$10 special on pizza slices. Those specials will run from when gates open at 6:00 p.m., to puck drop. Throughout the game, fans will have a chance to win some great prizes including, a three-month training membership to F45 Fitness in Belleville, gift cards and prizes from Belleville Sens partners, and tonight only, a pair of tickets to see the Jonas Brothers live at the Canadian Tire Centre.

Follow the action:

Tonight’s game can seen on AHL TV and heard on the Belleville Sens Entertainment Network. pregame coverage from CAA Arena in Belleville, Ontario, begins at 6:45 p.m. (ET) with David Foot and Tim Durkin.

Ticket info:

Tickets for all Belleville Sens home games through January 20, 2024, are now on sale online via the Belleville Sens Ticket Hub, or by emailing tickets@bellevillesens.com. Tickets for the second half of the season will be available for purchase beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Monday November 20, 2023, with information on hours for the Belleville Sens Box Office at the Quinte Sports and Wellness Centre, to be released later. 

Fans looking to buy second half tickets can secure those seats now, by purchasing season seat memberships, flex packs,  group experiences or Business Elite memberships. Further information on the Belleville Sens promotional schedule, special events and more, are set to be released in the coming weeks. 

The full 2023-24 Belleville Senators regular season schedule can be found by clicking here.

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