The Belleville Senators picked up a crucial win to finish their five game home stand on Wednesday night as they outlasted the division rival Laval Rocket 3-2.
It was the 31st ever meeting between the two teams, which both came into the American Hockey League at the start of the 2017/18 season.
Josh Norris, Parker Kelly and Filip Chlapik all scored for the Sens and Marcus Hogberg made 39 saves, while Xavier Ouellet and Lukas Vejdomo tallied for Laval, with rookie goaltender Cayden Primeau making 29 stops.
The Senators got off to a quick start and beat Primeau within first 2:00, when Vitaly Abramov hurried in deep, took the puck around back of the Laval net and fed Josh Norris in front, who scored his second of the season.
Belleville kept the pressure on, forcing Laval to take a timeout about 4:00 into the game and then breached the Rocket netminder again at 5:36, on a fantastic rush from the line of Jonathan Davidsson, Parker Kelly and Joseph LaBate.
Davidsson carried the puck into the Laval zone on the right wing side, slipped a pass off to LaBate and he quickly fed Kelly, who was driving to the net, after starting the rush at the other end of the ice and he buried his first goal of the season, to make it 2-0.
The B-Sens would pile on the chances for the rest of the period, while playing stingy defence, as they outshot Laval 16-4 in the frame.
Belleville Senators forward Morgan Klimchuk turns towards the puck, during a game against the Laval Rocket at CAA Arena, on October 23, 2019. (Photo: Jason Scourse / Belleville Senators)
The Senators started the second the same way as the first, scoring just over 1:00 in and increasing the lead to 3-0.
Drake Batherson sent a pass up to Jordan Murray, who carried it into the zone and dropped a pass back to Morgan Klimchuk, who faked a shot and then hit a wide open Filip Chlapik in front, with Chlapik tapping-in his first of the season to increase the lead.
Laval started their push back and carried the play after that.
The experienced Rocket group crashed the net and generated chances in front of Hogberg, outshooting the Sens 19-13 in the period and scoring twice on a two-man advantage at 11:18 and 12:00.
First Ouellet blasted a one-timed slap shot past Marcus Hogberg from above the far circle, then Vejdomo banged in a rebound to bring the Rocket within one.
Belleville had a power play of their own moments later but couldn’t capitalize and held the 3-2 lead heading into the third.
The Senators spent most of the third period on their heels but would hang on.
Laval almost tied it in the first half of the period on another power play, when Riley Barber hit the post, but the Sens were able to protect the lead.
Batherson and Stuart Percy, who was back in Belleville on a professional try out, would both hit the post in the period as well.
Hogberg was called upon to make another handful of saves during a string of Laval power plays, including one where he slid across to rob the Rocket shooter with his glove and keep Belleville in front for good.
Belleville Senators goaltender Marcus Hogberg covers a puck, during a game against the Laval Rocket at CAA Arena, on October 23, 2019. (Photo: Jason Scourse / Belleville Senators)
Hogberg says he was glad to pick up his first win of the season an an important early-season game.
Coach Troy Mann told Quinte News post game that his young team was able to correct some mistakes from the weekend and will continue to improve as the season goes on.
He added that he wasn’t surprised by the way Laval pushed back in second period, but was pleased with how his team handled the momentum swings.
The coach also updated the team’s injury situation saying Alex Formenton and Hubert Labrie are out day-to-day, while Andreas Englund sustained a lower body injury that will keep him up four-to-six weeks.
The B-Sens now head out on their first real road trip of the season, visiting the Springfield Thunderbirds on Saturday and the Providence Bruins on Sunday.
800 AM CJBQ’s coverage begins at 6:50 p.m. on Saturday and 2:50 p.m. on Sunday, for Eastern Overhead Doors and Deerhaven Farm and Garden.
You can click here to read the box score from Wednesday night and see highlights of the game below.
