While the scoreline didn’t reflect how tight the game actually was, the Belleville Senators earned a win in their first ever meeting with the Rockford IceHogs (Chicago Blackhawks), picking up a 5-2 victory in a back and forth affair.
Sens’ captain Jordan Szwarz scored twice, with JC Beaudin, Josh Norris and Alex Formenton also finding the net.
Filip Gustavsson made 24 saves on 26 shots against, to earn his 7th win of the season in goal.
The Senators controlled the play in the first period by using their speed and some physical play, to put pressure on the forecheck and dominate the puck possession.
Drake Batherson hit a crossbar in the opening minute and the Sens’ effort would payoff at 13:54, when a good heads up play by JC Beaudin opened the scoring.
With Belleville killing a penalty, Beaudin hopped on a puck that was knocked down by a high stick in the neutral zone and sped in on a breakaway, to beat Matt Tomkins with a backhand, for his first goal of the season.
It was also Beaudin’s first game back from an NHL call up in Ottawa.
Gustavsson only faced four shots in the frame, despite a pair of Rockford power plays, but stopped them all.
Belleville Senators defenceman Erik Brannstrom fights off a check from Rockford IceHogs captain Tyler Sikura, during a game at CAA Arena, on December 13, 2019. (Photo: Jason Scourse / Belleville Senators)
Belleville increased the lead to 2-0 inside the first minute of the second period.
Erik Brannstrom flipped a pass off to Rudolfs Balcers on the left wing side, who threw the puck at the net and captain Jordan Szwarz followed up to bury the rebound, for his 7th goal of the season.
The assist by Balcers set a new B-Sens franchise record for points in consecutive games, with the Latvian getting at least one point in each of the 11 games he’s played this season.
Rockford got on the board at 15:40 of the period with Nicolas Beaudin’s first career AHL goal.
The IceHogs caught Belleville making a line change and Ben Youds threw a long pass up the right wing boards to Reese Johnson, who laid it back to Beaudin and he beat Gustavsson with a wrist shot to the far side.
After Belleville’s early second period goal, it was Rockford who scored at the same mark of the third, just 28 seconds in.
Rockford Captain Tyler Sikura got to the puck in the near corner and dropped a pass back to John Quenneville, who beat Gustavsson to tie the game 2-2.
The game was only tied for about 4:00 until Josh Norris scored his 11th of the season.
After a failed passing play attempt, Drake Batherson re-entered the Rockford zone on the right side and floated a pass ahead of Norris, who went bar down on Tomkins to make it 3-2.
Brannstrom earned his second assist of the game on the play.
The B-Sens would get some insurance at 17:49 when Jordan Szwarz buried his own rebound, off a tip from a Jack Dougherty shot and then Alex Formenton potted an empty netter to round out the scoring at 5-2.
Belleville Senators forward Alex Formenton skates through two Rockford IceHogs defenders, during a game at CAA Arena, on December 13, 2019. (Photo: Jason Scourse / Belleville Senators)
Szwarz told media post game that his team is starting to learn how to control the momentum swings in a game.
Head Coach Troy Mann agreed with his captain and also gave credit to the third line of Beaudin, Filip Chlapik and Max Veronneau for their work on the ight.
The Sens are back in action Saturday as they travel to Toronto for another meeting with the Marlies (Toronto Maple Leafs).
800 AM CJBQ’s coverage begins at 3:50 p.m. for Deerhaven Farm and Garden, and Eastern Overhead Doors.
You can click here to read the box score from Friday night and see highlights from the game below.
