Story by Matt Tidcombe.
The Belleville Senators scored four second period goals as they beat the Rochester Americans 5-1 Friday night at Blue Cross Arena.
Nick Paul (2), Parker Kelly, Boston Leier and Jack Rodewald scored for Belleville while Marcus Hogberg made 32 saves. Rochester’s lone goal came from Colin Blackwell while Jonas Johansson made 15 saves before being pulled in favour of Jason Kasdorf who stopped nine shots.
Down by a goal heading into the second, Belleville exploded for three goals in a 3:25 span that was started by the debuting Parker Kelly as he scored short-handed in his professional debut on a breakaway after David Dziurzynski had forced a turnover at the blue line just 47 seconds in.
Belleville had the lead at 2:04 through Leier’s third of the year as off of a faceoff win, the puck found Pat Sieloff at the blue line who fired it goal bound where Leier tipped the puck past Johnasson.
Paul made it 3-1 Belleville at 4:11 as he whacked away at the pads of Johansson who couldn’t find the puck after Nick Moutrey had driven the net.
And the Senators collected a fourth goal with 34.7 seconds left in the period through Rodewald who went bar down in the slot after a great centering pass by Christian Jaros on the power play.
Paul completed the scoring in the final minute of regulation, again on the power play, as he beautifully corralled Jaros’ cross-ice feed before wiring one past Kasdorf.
The Americans scored the only goal of the first period through Blackwell at 18:31 after taking a pass in the slot before beating Hogberg low.
Sens forward Andrew Sturtz collected his first pro point with an assist on Paul’s first goal while Sieloff, Jaros and Jordan Murray all registered two assists.
Belleville is back in action Saturday as they host the Laval Rocket for the final time this season. Gametime is 7 o’clock, CJBQ’s broadcast begins at 6:50.
Quinte News’ Jack Miller spoke to Parker Kelly after the game.
