It was another tough night in Montreal for the Belleville Senators on Friday, as they dropped a 5-2 decision to the Laval Rocket, losing their season opening series 3-1 as well.
Cody Goloubef and Mark Kastelic scored in the losing cause, while rookie forward Rafael Harvey-Pinard paced the Rocket attack with two goals.
Both goaltenders made some big saves at times, though Belleville’s Joey Daccord was tested much more than Laval’s Cayden Primeau.
Daccord, who just returned from the NHL Senators, stopped 34 of 39 shots and Primeau turned away 24 of 26, to beat Belleville for the second time this season.
In a trend that has been prevalent in all four games so far, Belleville gave up the first goal.
Ryan Poehling banged in a rebound off the end boards, following a wide shot from rookie defender Gianni Fairbrother.
Belleville would capitalize on a Poehling turnover and tie the game less than five minutes later.
Poehling passed the puck out of the far corner, right onto the stick of Goloubef, who beat Primeau with a long wrist shot to even it 1-1.
Laval would go on to get one more, a couple of minutes later, and take a 2-1 lead into the first intermission, with Laurent Dauphin driving the net and redirecting a hard pass from the far corner by Lukas Vejdomo.
Harvey-Pinard’s first goal on the game came about six minutes into the second period, courtesy of some hard work and a bit of luck.
While tussling with a Belleville defender, Harvey-Pinard was able to shovel the puck out from below the Belleville goal line and bank it in off a skate and in, to make it 3-1.
Alex Formenton would get a great chance for the B-Sens inside the period’s final minute, but couldn’t beat Primeau on a breakaway.
Belleville Senators forward Mark Kastelic celebrates his first American Hockey League goal, during a game against the Laval Rocket in Montreal, on February 19, 2021. (Photo: Courtesy / Laval Rocket)
Laval’s final two goals would come before the 8:30 mark of the third period: first, at just 15 seconds in on a period-opening breakout play, which was finished off by Corey Schueneman and then, Harvey-Pinard’s second of the night at 8:15.
He won another battle in front of the net and knocked the puck past Daccord to put Laval in front 5-1.
Belleville would cap their scoring on the night with a trio of firsts, just 30 seconds later.
Egor Sokolov took a shot from the right point, which got stopped by Primeau and then knocked around in front of the net by Cole Reinhardt, before Mark Kastelic finished off the play, earning all three players their first American Hockey League Points.
Following the game Senators coach Troy Mann told Quinte News that his team was outplayed most of the night.
“There were some moments when we had some chances to potentially tie the game at two, or make it 3-2 like the Formenton breakaway. So there were some moments when we could have got back in the hockey game. But overall I certainly felt they outplayed us and out-chanced us.”
Mann did credit some of his younger players for making some early strides in their development, but with an 11 day break on the way before their next game, knows there’s work to be done.
“Eleven days is just not ideal when guys have been off this long, but we’re going to structure it. We’re going to have to do some compete and skill development, and touch on every facet of our game. Our special teams, certainly our power play, needs to get way better.”
While an official schedule has yet to be released by the AHL, the Senators will likely return to action on March 3 in their home opener, though the game is expected to be played at the Canadian Tire Centre, the home of the parent club Ottawa Senators.
You can click here to see the box score from Friday night’s matchup.
