The Belleville Senators could continue their hot offensive play this week, as they mustered just one goal, in a 2-1 Saturday night loss to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.
The game rounds up a five-game home stand for the B-Sens, who went 3-2 over that span.
Head Coach Troy Mann says his team just didn’t generate enough quality chances against a good defensive team like Bridgeport.
The win was Bridgeport coach Brent Thompson’s 200th with the Sound Tigers.
Mann added it would have been nice to finish the stretch of home games with a win, but it was more important to pick up four of a possible six points through the week.
In a change from the last couple of home games there was no score through the first 7:00 of the game, but Belleville got a couple of quick chances in tight from Nick Paul and Paul Carey, coming out of the first TV time out.
Belleville also couldn’t capitalize on a four-on-three power play and would give up the opening goal moments later.
Bridgeport got possession deep in the Belleville zone and worked the puck up top and back down to the near side circle, where Mitchell Vande Sompel had pinched in and he put a wrist shot past Jake Paterson, who was slow coming across.
The Senators would get even late in the frame, as Adam Tambellini ripped his 7th of the season past Christopher Gibson to make it.
Jack Rodewald and Paul Carey assisted on the goal and it was 1-1 after the first.
There were more shots both ways in the second period but no goals.
Belleville came close in the opening minute when a long shot was stopped by Gibson and the rebound settled dangerously in the crease, but was cleared away.
The Senators would also hit a post on the power play and get a handful of big saves from Paterson while killing penalties but the scoreline didn’t change after 40 minutes.
Bridgeport Sound Tigers forward Scott Eansor celebrates the game winning goal against the Belleville Senators on November 17, 2018. (Photo: Jason Scourse / Belleville Senators)
After a scoreless 10 minutes to start the third, the Sound Tigers would get in front for good, when Scott Eansor redirected a Jeff Kubiak point shot past Paterson to put them up 2-1.
Belleville would get at least three god chance with the net empty in the final 1:30, including a deflection off the crossbar, but couldn’t find the net.
Despite the loss, Paterson says he felt comfortable in the net, in just his 9th American Hockey League appearance.
The B-Sens now head out on a four-game road trip with stops in Charlotte on Tuesday and Wednesday, Utica on Saturday and Laval next Wednesday.
All of the games can be heard on 800 CJBQ for Eastern Overhead Doors and Deerhaven Farm and Garden.
You can click here to read the box score from Saturday night and see highlights below.
