The Belleville Senators got the start they wanted but not the finish.
A strong first period gave Belleville a 1-0 lead. It was the first time this season the B-Sens have scored first but the lead would end there.
A 3 goal second period keyed by two Manitoba power plays turned the table and the low scoring Senators couldn’t recover as they fell 6-2 to the Moose.
Back to back penalties including a bench minor for too many men on the ice left Belleville two men short. Ville Heinola capitalized to tie the score 1-1. Still on the power play Skyler McKenzie would give Manitoba the lead for good just 42 seconds later. Manitoba’s leading scorer, Nathan Todd scored his 5th of the season with ten seconds left in the middle frame to up the score to 3-1. B-Sens coach Troy Mann said that goal was the back breaker. It proved to be the game winner.
(Manitoba Moose vs Bellevile Senators
March 6, 2021 © Andre Ringuette/Freestyle Photography)
Jeff Malott scored twice in the opening 5:15 of the third to to dash any hope the Senators could come back. The B-Sens have scored just 12 goals in 7 games, the lowest total in the American Hockey League.
A power play goal by Alex Formenton at 15:39 of the third cut Belleville’s deficit to three goals but the comeback ended there.
The Moose were 4/5 on the power play. The B-Sens were 1/2.
Belleville outshot Manitoba 31-28. Filip Gustavsson made his third straight start for the B-Sens. Mikhail Berdin was in goal for the Moose.
Belleville’s record falls to 1-6 with the next two games against the Laval Rocket at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa on Monday and Wednesday.
