The Belleville Senators had their six game point streak stopped at the hands of one of the American Hockey League’s best teams on Saturday night.
The Central Division leading Milwaukee Admirals beat the B-Sens 4-2, on Hockey Fights Cancer Night at CAA Arena, in the first ever meeting between the two clubs.
With the win, not only did Milwaukee stop the Senators’ point streak, but also extended its own win streak to seven.
Belleville had stretches of the game where they kept up with the Admiarals, including a 6:38 span without a whistle to start the game, but both teams would find the net during a flurry of goals late in the first period.
Milwaukee’s lethal power play, which was operating at 29.4% coming into the game, struck first at 14:46.
Cole Schneider buried a rebound past Filip Gustavsson following a Colin Blackwell shot from the near circle to open the scoring.
Belleville answered just over a minute later, when a Milwaukee pass up the boards ricocheted off of Cole Cassels, to Morgan Klimchuk, who walked into the slot and rifled a wrist shot by Connor Ingram.
The Admirals would go back in front about a minute after that, on another power play, when Rem Pitlick deflected a low point shot over Gustavsson’s glove hand shoulder.
The B-Sens were also stymied by a couple of highlight reel saves from Ingram throughout the period, including one on a Vitaly Abaramov breakaway.
Belleville Senators captain Jordan Szwarz battles for the puck, during a game against the Milwaukee Admirals at CAA Arena, on November 16, 2019. (Photo: Jason Scourse / Belleville Senators)
After a Belleville offensive barrage that didn’t pay off to start the second period, the reigning AHL Player of the Week made it 3-1 Milwaukee at 6:46.
Daniel Carr carried the puck in on the right wing side and beat Gustavsson with a wrist shot from the near circle.
Rudolfs Balcers scored his third goal in two nights, to cut the lead to one, when he tipped a Josh Norris shot past Ingram, on the power play at 13:15, but the Admirals’ two goal lead was reinstated about 6:30 later.
After a turnover at the Milwaukee blue line, Blackwell flipped the puck high in the air, gloved it down and fed Jeremy Davies, who snapped his second of the season past Gustavsson to make it 4-2.
Marcus Hogberg came in to start the third period for Belleville marking the second time Gustavsson has been pulled during a game on home ice and the second time he had been taken from the net in his six starts this season.
Despite Hogberg’s steadying presence, Belleville couldn’t get anything going and the 4-2 scoreline held up.
Belleville Senators forward Rudolfs Balcers is chased down by Milwaukee Admirals defender Steven Santini, during a game at CAA Arena, on November 16, 2019. (Photo: Jason Scourse / Belleville Senators)
Senators coach Troy Mann says he thought his team skated well with Milwaukee at even strength, but special teams made the difference.
He added that while the point streak has come to an intent, it’s important to refocus and try to start a new one next week.
Belleville is off until Wednesday when they welcome the Manitoba Moose (Winnipeg Jets) to CAA Arena.
800 AM CJBQ will have coverage of that game with the pregame show starting at 6:50 p.m. for Eastern Overhead Doors and Deerhaven Farm and Garden.
You can click here to see the box score from Saturday night and see highlights from the game below.
