The Belleville Senators continue to struggle to start games recently, but they also continue to impress late, as they came back again to beat the Manitoba Moose 5-4 in overtime at CAA Arena on Saturday.
Darren Archibald, Parker Kelly, Jordan Szwarz, Rudolfs Balcers and Alex Formenton scored for Belleville, with Filip Gustavsson making 20 saves on 24 shots.
Kristian Reichel had a pair of goals for Manitoba, with Ryan White and Logan Stanley also scoring and Mikhail Berdin stopped 37 of 42 shots he faced.
The Senators came out of the gates slow giving up two goals in just over 5:00 of the first period.
Manitoba scored on their shot of the game after an offensive zone faceoff win by CJ Suess, back to Reichel, whose low shot got through the crowd and past Gustavsson.
The Moose followed that up a couple minutes later when Cole Maier’s low shot was kicked away by Gustavsson, but right to White, who hammered in the rebound to make it 2-0.
Belleville Senators forward Filip Chlapik races into the corner, during a game against the Manitoba Moose, on February 22, 2020. (Photo: Jason Scourse / Belleville Senators)
The second period started much like the first, with Manitoba extending the lead to 3-0 just 4:20 into the period.
Stanley’s seeing-eye wrist shot from the far boards eluded Gustavsson for the 6’7” defenceman’s third goal of the season.
But, Belleville’s big guy would answer less than a minute later, as Archibald banged in his second in as many nights to cut the lead to two.
The Sens would get the lead down to one before the end of the frame after a miscue by the Moose goaltender, who tends to play the puck in dangerous situation.
Berdin came out of the net to get the puck in the near corner, as Joseph LaBate came charging in and as Berdin played the puck up the boards, right onto the tape of Kelly who fired it into the empty cage.
Belleville heavily outshot the Moose through two periods taking a 31-16 shot advantage to the dressing room, despite trailing by a goal.
Belleville Senators defenceman Hubert Labrie squares off with Manitoba Moose defenceman Charles-David Beaudoin, during a game at CAA Arena, on February 22, 2020. (Photo: Jason Scourse / Belleville Senators)
Belleville would complete the comeback in the third period and fall behind again, before forcing the extra frame.
Sens’ captain Jordan Szwarz tied the game with a redirection at 6:20 of the period, before Reichel scored off another faceoff win, charging forward to snap a shot past Gustavsson to make it 4-3.
But the Senators patience would pay off in the final minute, with Balcers finishing off a quick passing play down low with just 34 seconds left.
Then in overtime, Formenton poked the puck ahead past Jonathan Kovacevic and raced in to get a shot on Berdin, with the puck bouncing high in the air, off the back of the Moose goaltender and over the line.
Formenton says despite falling behind early in games his team continues to be a resilient group.
Head Coach Troy Mann added that he was pleased his team accomplished his set goal of earning six of a possible eight points through the week.
The Senators are off until Wednesday when they welcome the Laval Rocket to CAA Arena.
800 AM CJBQ’s coverage begins at 6:50 p.m. for Eastern Overhead Doors and Deerhaven Farm and Garden.
After that, Belleville heads out to Cleveland for meetings with the Monsters next Friday and Saturday.
You can click here to see the box score from Saturday night and watch highlights from the game below.
