(Belleville’s Igor Sokolov mixes it up with Syracuse defenceman Darren Raddysh. With files from David Foot)
As the fight for an American Hockey League playoff spot enters the final two months of the regular season, the Belleville Senators took a step back following a 6-2 loss to the Syracuse Crunch.
It was the first game of a twin bill between the two North Division rivals who are now separated by three points although Belleville has two games in hand.
Syracuse scored four goals in the second period to break a 1-1 tie while adding another early in the third to leave little doubt of the outcome.
Syracuse opened the scoring, 9:51 into the game, when Darren Raddysh beat Mads Sogaard with a slapshot from the blue line. The Senators responded to close out the period as Andrew Agozzino deposited a rebound off the end boards to beat the buzzer at the 19:59 mark of the frame.
The Crunch continued to extend their lead throughout the second through Cole Kopeke and Gabriel Dumont, who both tallied twice in the stanza. Belleville added their lone marker of the period after defenceman Zac Leslie finished a creative passing from Andrew Agozzino and Egor Sokolov at 17:35.
Gabriel Dumont continued his strong offensive output in the third period, completing a hat trick to secure the Syracuse win. That goal meant the end of the night for Sens’ starting goaltender Mads Sogaard who was brilliant in the first half of the first period while Syracuse had outshot Belleville 10-1.
Filip Gustavsson relieved Sogaard at 2:56 of the third and stopped all 11 shots he faced. The final shots on goal favoured the Crunch 40-30.
The Senators and Crunch meet again Tuesday night at 7:05 at the CAA Arena. CJBQ’s broadcast for Deerhaven Farm and Garden and MacKay Insurance begins at 6:50.
