The Belleville Senators returned to CAA Arena from their eight game road trip with another victory over a division rival on Thursday.
They knocked off the Laval Rocket 6-4, thanks mainly to two goals and an assist from Jack Rodewald, with Joseph LaBate, Max McCormick, Tobias Lindberg and Drake Batherson also chipping in.
Lindberg’s goal came under 7:00 in when he fired a wrist shot from the blue line that eluded Ètienne Marcoux
Both teams would trade goals the rest of the period with Michael McCarron and Alexandre Grenier both scoring on the power play for Laval and LaBate and McCormick also tallying for Belleville, keeping the Senators in front 3-2 after the first.
McCormick was making his return to Belleville, playing his first home game following a lengthy call-up to Ottawa and told reporters he’s been settling in nicely since coming back from the National Hockey League.
Belleville Senators forward Logan Brown protects the puck during a game against the Laval Rocket, at CAA Arena, on December 27, 2018. (Photo Jason Scourse / Belleville Senators)
The only goal in the second game at 19:08, when Cale Fleury’s long shot squeaked through the legs of Filip Gustavsson to tie it up after 40 minutes.
Rodewald would go to work in the third, sniping two low shots past Marcoux, one on a breakaway 36 seconds in and one on a penalty shot at 9:44.
The Winnipeg native had a total of six shots in the game and says he was able to feel for some weaknesses in Marcoux’s game and help the team push towards the .500 mark again and the a potential playoff spot.
McCarron would get one back at 18:47, but Drake Batherson added an empty netter to re-instate the two-goal lead.
Belleville Senators forward Drake Batherson fights off a defender during a game against the Laval Rocket, at CAA Arena, on December 27, 2018. (Photo: Jason Scourse / Belleville Senators)
Head Coach Troy Mann says his club has been focused on starting the second half of the season on the right foot and realizing the importance of beating divisional rivals at this stage of the campaign.
The coach also gave brief updates on Erik Burgdoerfer and Aaron Luchuk who both left the game with injuries in the first period, leaving the team to play two men short for most of the game.
He says Burgdoerfer’s injury led him to be sent to the hospital to be checked out.
He added that Gustavsson will likely get another start on Saturday at home to Binghamton, with Marcus Högberg in Ottawa and Jake Paterson called up from Brampton.
Gametime is 7:05 p.m. at CAA Arena and tickets are available at the box office, or the Belleville Senators website.
You can also hear the game on 800 AM CJBQ, for Eastern Overhead Doors and Deerhaven Farm and Garden, with pregame coverage at 6:50 p.m.
Highlights from Thursday’s game can be seen below and you can click here to read the box score.
