The Belleville Senators dropped the second of two weekend bouts at home with the Cleveland Monsters Saturday night.
Coming off a 4-0 loss to Cleveland Friday, Belleville looked to even the score at CAA Arena just 24 hours later.
The game got off to a good start for Belleville as winger Andrew Agozzino netted his first of the season just four minutes into the first frame.
After killing off a Roby Jarventie hooking penalty, the B-Sens had the chance to widen the gap when Cleveland’s Carson Meyer took a four minute double minor for high sticking, but were unable to capitalize and took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.
Just under four minutes into the second period the Monsters evened the game at one when Defenceman Jake Christiansen got one past Belleville goaltender Kevin Mandolese, who was in for his first start of the young season.
After the Senators took a late-period too many men penalty, Cleveland’s Tyler Sikura scored with just five seconds left on the clock to give the Monsters a 2-1 edge heading into the second intermission.
The B-Sens struggled to generate goals in the third period despite firing 19 shots on net.
They had three separate power play opportunities in the frame but couldn’t solve rookie goaltender Jet Greaves who was making his AHL debut.
All said and done it ended as a 2-1 win for Cleveland with Greaves making 40 saves on 41 Belleville shots and the Senators’ offensive struggles continued, as did the power play which went 0-6 on the night.
The loss brings Belleville to 1-3 on the season.
The B-Sens are back in action Wednesday at CAA Arena as the Rochester Americans come to town with the puck dropping at 7 p.m.
