The Bellville Senators finished off their season series with the Utica Comets on Wednesday night at CAA arena and gained another crucial two points on their divisional rival, in the race for the fourth and final Calder Cup Playoff position in the AHL’s North Division.
The 3-1 victory gives Belleville a six-point cushion on Utica with 10 games to play.
In a game that had a real playoff feel, the Comets looked like the more desperate team from the outset, putting a relentless forecheck on the Senators and taking an early lead on the shot clock.
But Belleville would counter later in the period putting five shots on Michael Leighton during a power play, but they couldn’t beat the veteran netminder, who was first drafted into the NHL in 1999.
The best chances for either team came around the 16:00 minute mark.
First for Belleville, when Filip Chlapik took a pass from below the goal line and fired a wrist shot off the post.
Then for Utica, when Marcus Hogberg making his 16th straight start, slid across to stop Vincent Arseneau on a two-on-one rush, but neither team could find the net in the opening frame.
Bellleville Senators forward Logan Brown carries the puck during a game against the Utica Comets, at CAA Arena, on March 20, 2019. (Photo: Jason Scourse / Belleville Senators)
Utica outshot Belleville 6-0 through the first 5:00 minutes of the second, with Marcus Hogberg standing steady and the B-Sens would end up capitalizing on just their second shot of the period at the 5:20 mark.
Vitaly Abramov and Filip Chlapik worked a nice passing play on the near boards, which ended with Jack Rodewald driving the net and beating Leighton on a second chance opportunity to make it 1-0.
The B-Sens almost made it 2-0 about 12:00 into the period when former Comet Darren Archibald took a shot at the empty net with Leighton out of position, but Reid Gardiner slid across and blocked the puck with his skate.
It stayed 1-0 after two periods.
Belleville looked to continue the momentum in the third, putting plenty of pressure on the Utica goal, but the Comets would push back through the second half of the period, eventually tying the game with under 5:00 to play.
Brendan Woods, who had been a pest all night, knocked a backhander past Hogberg on a broken play to make it 1-1.
Belleville Senators forward Nick Paul picks up the puck along the boards, during a game against the Utica Comets at CAA Arena, on March 20, 2019. (Photo: Jason Scourse / Belleville Senators)
But the Senators would get the game-winner from an unlikely hero at 18:18 as Justin Falk fired a laser beam wrist shot over the glove of Leighton, following a pretty backhand saucer pass across the blue line from Drake Batherson.
It was Falk’s first goal as a Senator and just his second of the season.
He says it was nice to get himself on the scoresheet in a pivotal game.
Archibald would add an empty netter to seal the deal in his 399th career AHL game.
Senators Coach Troy Mann tells Quinte News the matchup felt like a true playoff affair.
The Senators now head out on the road for an eastern trip against the Providence Bruins on Friday and the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Saturday.
Both games can be heard live on 800 AM CJBQ for Eastern Overhead Doors and Deerhaven Farm and Garden.
You can click here to read the box score from Wednesday night and see highlights from the game below.
