The Belleville Senators hunt for the Calder Cup Playoffs took a bit of a hit on Wednesday as the defence put in another strong performance agains the division-leading Syracuse Crunch at CAA Arena, but a hot rookie goaltender made the difference in a 1-0 loss.
It’s been a tough stretch for the B-Sens who have only scored five times in the last six games, but at the same time, have only allowed nine.
Belleville controlled the attack through the first 8:15 keeping one of the top offences in the American Hockey League off the shot clock over that span and off the scoreboard for the entire first period, outshooting the Crunch 13-6 in the frame.
The B-Sens couldn’t beat rookie goaltender Atte Tolvanen, playing in his third game since being signed as a free agent from Western Michigan University, but did get a couple of good chances.
Filip Chlapik and JC Beaudin couldn’t connect on a two-on-one, Joseph LaBate got stopped on a breakaway and Drake Batherson was stymied on a couple of opportunities in the period, as it stayed scoreless at the end of 20 minutes.
Belleville Senators defenceman Jordan Murray gets in on a breakaway against Syracuse Crunch goaltender Atte Tolvanen, during a game at CAA Arena, on April 3, 2019. (Photo: Jason Scourse / Bellevile Senators)
Syracuse made some adjustments during the intermission and came out with a pile of pressure to start the second, peppering Marcus Hogberg with six shots in the first 6:00.
Hogberg was making his third straight start and had been perfect to that point.
But the Crunch would find Hogberg’s only hole on the night at 8:32 of the second, when Andy Andreoff snapped a seven game goalless drought, by beating the big Belleville tender with a wrist shot from the far circle finishing a play from Cory Conacher and Alexander Volkov.
Belleville had another 11 shots in the period but couldn’t even the score after 40 minutes, or in the third as well, despite generating a handful of chances and fending off more of the Crunch’s sometimes relentless attack.
Tolvanen earned his first AHL shutout, with Belleville being shutout for the fourth time of the season and the first time at home this campaign.
Head Coach Troy Mann credited both goaltenders for their performances in what was a frustrating night for his team offensively.
Mann also says he was pleased with his team’s compete level, despite the loss, adding that the tough defence being played by their opponents can be seen as a learning experience for some of his young players.
Coupled with Cleveland’s win in Laval, the B-Sens fall back into 5th place in the North Division playoff race, with the Monsters also holding a game at hand, ahead of their visit to CAA Arena on Saturday.
Before that though, the Hershey Bears visit on Friday, with both of those games available on 800 AM CJBQ.
You can click here to read the box score from Wednesday night and see the highlights below.
