The Belleville Senators battled through a slew of penalties and got strong performances from some key additions to the roster, in a hard-fought 3-2 win over the Toronto Marlies on Friday night.
The B-Sens’ PK unit was a perfect nine-for-nine on the night.
Alex Formenton had a goal, four shots on net and 10 penalty minutes, while Matthew Peca added a goal and a trio of shots.
Cody Goloubef also scored for Belleville, while Kevin Mandolese made 43 saves to earn his first American Hockey League win and was named the game’s first star.
Kenny Agostino and Jeremy McKenna countered for Toronto, with Joseph Woll stopping 29 shots.
It took the B-Sens a little bit to get going offensively, but they would open the scoring midway through the first period when Peca tipped home a point shot from Jack Dougherty.
He was playing in his first AHL game of the season, after spending most of the season shuffling back and forth between the Ottawa Senators and their NHL taxi squad.
Vitaly Abramov earned the second assist on the play, putting him on a three game point streak.
That was the only scoring in the first period, with Mandolese stopping all 11 shots he faced.
Belleville put 10 shots on Woll in the first.
Belleville Senators forward Matthew Peca celebrates a goal against the Toronto Marlies, at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, on March 19, 2021. (Photo: Andre Ringuette / Freestyle Photography)
Toronto would get even exactly 3:00 into the second period when Agostino beat Mandolese with a wrist shot, after a hard cross-slot pass from Joey Anderson, to tie the game 1-1.
The B-Sens would get back in front almost 8:00 later on a two-man advantage.
Brannstrom weaved his way out of his own zone and into Toronto territory, then set up Formenton who fired a low wrister past Woll to make it 2-1.
The slick-moving defender was making his return to Belleville, to get some playing time, after being a healthy scratch in Ottawa the last few games.
Mandolese was awarded the second assist on the goal, to add to his impressive nighter.
Belleville would increase the lead to 3-1 just 2:00 later when Goloubef’s long point shot eluded Woll. The assists went to Joseph LaBate and Cole Cassels.
The B-Sens took a two-goal lead into the second intermission, despite being outshot 15-12 in the period and fighting off three Toronto power plays.
The Marlies would score early in the third as well as McKenna cleaned up an Agostino rebound just 1:23 in.
Belleville would have to kill three more power plays in the period and hang on to for the 3-2 win, with Mandolese being called upon a number of times in the final moments.
Belleville Senators defenceman Erik Brannstrom carries the puck, during a game against the Toronto Marlies at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, on March 19, 2021. (Photo: Andre Ringuette / Freestyle Photography)
The Belleville netminder says he was pleased to pick up the win, especially with the way the pandemic has affected the season.
“I’m just happy we won. It’s been a weird year this year. I haven’t played a game since a month ago and before that I hadn’t played in a year, so it was definitely good to have my first win. Hopefully I can keep it going.”
Senators Head Coach Troy Mann felt the penalties definitely had an impact on the game, but was proud of how his team responded to that adversity.
“ It was tough from a rhythm perspective with the way the game was called. If you do the math, you’re talking about roughly half the hockey game (on the PK). There was a number of guys that fell out of rhythm and I thought it took away from our 5 on 5 play. But 5 on 5 I thought we did a good job.”
Mann was also pleased with his team’s ability handle the Marlies pushback.
“The majority of chances tonight, at least in the first and second period, came primarily on the penalty kill. They certainly made some pushes in the third and we faced some adversity but I thought overall, a good team win.”
Peca, who joined the B-Sens after spending most of the season on Ottawa’s NHL taxi squad, says it was nice to be able to step in and make an immediate impact, but credit the entire team for the win.
“It feels good. A game like that takes everybody. Guys PK’ing, the power play and it’s tough for guys who don’t play special teams, so it was nice to see some guys do a job when we needed them. Mando played great, so all around a great team effort.”
The B-Sens and Marlies will battle again on Saturday afternoon at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa.
You can hear the game live on 800 AM CJBQ starting at 3:00 p.m.
You can click here to see the box score from Friday night.
Belleville Senators goaltender Kevin Mandolese takes to the ice, during a game against the Toronto Marlies at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, on March 19, 2021. (Photo: Andre Ringuette / Freestyle Photography)
