After beating the Toronto Marlies twice last weekend, the Belleville Senators’ offence sputtered on Friday, as they dropped a 4-2 decision to their Ontario rivals.
The loss ends Belleville’s winning streak at seven games, while Toronto picked up its third win in a row.
Jack Dougherty and Vitaly Abramov scored for Belleville, with Joey Daccord making 29 saves in the loss.
Kasimir Kaskisuo got some revenge by stopping 26 of 28 shots, after being pulled in Belleville last week, with Mason Marchment, Kenny Agostino, Egor Korshkov and Matt Read all finding the net for the Marlies.
After both teams traded chances through the first 5:00 the Marlies thought they had opened the scoring during a goalmouth scramble on a power play, but the referee waived it off and that decision was confirmed by a video review moments later.
As play continued, Alex Formenton was denied by Kaskisuo on a breakaway, Belleville’s best chance through the first 10:00.
The Senators would be the ones to get on the board first at 8:46 when Dougherty took a pass in the slot, from Vitaly Abramov at the bottom of the far circle and he pivoted and beat Kaskisuo up high.
But Toronto would equalize inside the final minute when the puck came out front to Marchment, who put his 12th of the season past Daccord.
It was Marchment’s seventh goal in four games and his fourth goal against Belleville in their last two meetings, after he had a hat trick last week.
The Toronto Marlies celebrate a goal against the Belleville Senators, during a game at CAA Arena, on February 14, 2020. (Photo: Jason Scourse / Belleville Senators)
Abramov would get rewarded for his hard work early in the second, scoring his 16th of the season and his first since January 10.
Jordan Murray hit the speedy Russian in stride, with a two-line pass up the middle of the ice and Abramov created some space from the chasing defenders, to tuck a backhander between the legs of Kaskisuo and make it 2-1 Belleville.
Toronto tied the game again on a power play goal at 9:22.
Daccord made the initial save but the rebound popped loose and Agostino was able to knock it over the line.
Toronto took a 3-2 lead to the intermission after Josh Norris got pushed off the puck in the offensive zone, leading to a stretch pass from Kristians Rubins to Korshkov and much like his countryman from Belleville earlier in the game, the big Russian broke in alone and slid a puck along the ice past Daccord.
Toronto carried that momentum through the first half of the third period and ended up taking their 4-2 lead at 8:46 of the frame.
Garrett Wilson’s shot missed the net wide and bounced right to Read at the side of the net and he tapped it in for his eighth goal of the season.
That would be enough to seal the Toronto victory, with Belleville only able to muster 15 shots through the final 40 minutes of the game.
The Senators also went 0-for-6 on the power play, while giving up one power play goal against.
Belleville Senators Defenceman Christian Wolanin skates to the bench after a fight in the third period, during a game against the Toronto Marlies at CAA Arena, on February 14, 2020. (Photo: Jason Scourse / Belleville Senators)
Senators coach Troy Mann says he felt it was his team’s worst game in two months.
Defenceman Christian Wolanin returned to the line up after injuring his shoulder before training camp and needed surgery.
He made some of the Sens staff nervous when he fought Adam Brooks late in the game.
Wolanin says he felt good in his first game back and his shoulder is healed, so he was just trying to show his teammates that he’s ready to to be back on the ice.
While Wolanin won’t be in the game, that animosity will likely carry over into Saturday afternoon when the Senators and Marlies play round nine of the Battle of Ontario in Toronto, before they return home on Family Day Monday for a matinee with the Syracuse Crunch.
800 AM CJBQ’s coverage begins at 3:50 p.m. on Saturday and 1:50 p.m. Monday, for Eastern Overhead Doors and Deerhaven Farm and Garden.
