Despite another late third period comeback the Belleville Senators weren’t able to earn an extra point as they fell 4-3 in overtime to the North Division leading Rochester Americans (Buffalo Sabres) on Friday night.
Josh Norris, Alex Formenton and Drake Batherson all scored for Belleville, while Sean Malone, Jean-Sebastien Dea, Casey Mittlestadt and former Belleville Bull Remi Elie all countered for Rochester.
Joey Daccord made 34 saves on 38 shots with the Senators putting 22 shots on Jonas Johansson the other way.
The game’s opening goal came at 8:11 after Erik Brannstrom, back from Ottawa, carried the puck deep into the Rochester zone and threw it to the front of the net as he took a big hit into the boards.
Norris got to the puck in front and put his 17th of the season past Johansson.
Rochester tried to answer a couple minutes later when Lawrence Pilut crashed the net, but he couldn’t jam the puck past Daccord, even with two chances at the top of the blue paint.
The teams would exchange chances the rest of the period, but neither were able to score again.
Belleville Senators defenceman Erik Brannstrom skates up ice during a game against the Rochester Americans, at CAA Arena, on January 3, 2020. (Photo: Jason Scourse / Belleville Senators)
The Amerks evened the score just over 2:00 into the second when Malone walked in alone, made a couple dekes to get Daccord to dive forward and tucked the puck into the Belleville net.
But Belleville would edge back in front on another chance created by Brannstrom and finished by Formenton.
Brannstrom’s initial point shot from the far wing was blocked, he picked up the rebound, carried it to the near circle and fired it through traffic and off the post, with Formenton tapping in the rebound for his 14th of the season.
The lead only lasted 4:00 until Dea slipped a rebound by the left skate of Daccord, who was down and out after making an initial save.
And the Amerks would go in front 6:30 or so after that after Mittlestadt picked the pocket of Jordan Murray, inside the Belleville blue line and walked in to beat Daccord with a backhand shot over the shoulder, for a shorthanded marker to make it 3-2.
The 3-2 scoreline stood at the end of the second period, which had to be suspended with under 1:00 left, when Amerks’ forward Taylor Leier was hit in the head by a puck and had to be stretchered off the ice.
The remaining time was played out at the start of the third period.
It took more than 13:00 of the third for the Sens to get even again with Batherson notching his 13th of the season.
A Joseph LaBate shot got blocked and Batherson scooped up the rebound, dragged it around a defender and slid a backhander into the net.
Rochester would put another push on late and force the B-Sens to kill off a power play with under 3:00 left, but for the second game in a row, Belleville was able to force overtime.
The overtime only lasted 1:01.
Elie picked up the puck during a scramble around the Belleville net, with Daccord out of position and buried it to end the game.
Belleville Senators goaltender Joey Daccord makes a save on Rochester Americans forward Eric Cornel, during a game at CAA Arena, on January 3, 2020. (Photo: Jason Scourse / Belleville Senators)
Senators Coach Troy Mann says he was happy with his team’s start but he wasn’t disappointed with the overall performance.
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The Senators are right back at it on Saturday night when the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (Philadelphia Flyers) make their only visit to CAA Arena and Mann says the preparation is a bit different when you’re facing a team you only see twice a year.
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Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. with 800 AM CJBQ’s coverage beginning at 6:50 p.m. for Eastern Overhead Doors and Deerhaven Farm and Garden.
You can click here to see the box score from Friday night and watch highlights from the game below.
