Belleville Senators goaltender Mads Sogaard improved to 5-0 on the season as the B-Sens nabbed a 3-2 win over the Manitoba Moose in overtime Friday.
Belleville came into Friday’s game riding a four game win streak after beating the Toronto Marlies twice, the Laval Rocket and the Moose in the first a four game mini-series as the end of the season looms.
Manitoba notched the lone goal in the first period when winger Jeff Malott scored on the power play just past the midway point of the period.
Belleville was unable to solve Moose goalie Mikhail Berdin until halfway through the second period when Sens forward Logan Brown scored his second of the season on a solo effort to tie the game at one.
The B-Sens were able to stave off the Moose who had four separate power play opportunities in the second period alone and were unable to capitalize on one of their own. Just before the period ended Belleville defenceman Jonathan Aspirot scored his fifth of the season to give Belleville a 2-1 edge heading into the second intermission.
Manitoba came out pressing in the third period and just five minutes in, managed to knot the game at two with a goal by winger Haralds Egle.
Belleville peppered Berdin with 11 shots in the period but couldn’t find the back of the net and the game went into overtime.
Just 18 seconds into the extra frame, B-Sens forward Cole Reinhardt found the back of the net to seal the 3-2 win for Belleville, their fifth straight.
Scoring and shooting had been a struggle for Belleville during much of the season so far, but it seems that it’s a thing of the past. In Friday’s game they peppered Berdin with 40 shots.
Since coming over from Denmark, Belleville goalie Mads Sogaard has stolen the crease and brought the stability in net that Belleville has sought for most of the season. With Friday’s win he improved to 5-0 on the season and is now sporting a 2.36 goals against average as well as a .922 save percentage for the year.
Belleville Head Coach Troy Mann praised the 20-year-old’s composure in the net following Friday’s win.
“He’s off to a great start and certainly I don’t think we can ask for very much more in a small sample size. His composure, his calmness and his demeanour right now is excellent.”
Belleville’s recent surge of wins has brought them to third in the AHL’s Canadian Division at 15-15-1 behind only the Laval Rocket, who have already clinched the division, and the Manitoba Moose. However, there is nothing on the line since the AHL announced there will be no Calder Cup playoffs this season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The remaining slate of games for Belleville includes two more against Manitoba to finish off the four game mini-series and then they’ll close out the season with back-to-back games against the Toronto Marlies.
The B-Sens are back in action Saturday evening at 7 p.m. against the Manitoba Moose.
