The Belleville Senators fell 3-2 in overtime to the Rochester Americans on Friday night at CAA Arena.
After a scoreless first twenty minutes, Belleville opened the scoring midway through the second stanza when Cole Reinhardt found the back of the net, finishing a bank pass off the end wall from Michael Del Zotto. Rochester tied the game with 51 seconds left in the period as a long shot from the point deflected off a Senators’ stick and past Filip Gustavsson.
The tightly contested affair continued early into the third period. As Andrew Agozzino retook the Belleville lead, and his 15th goal of the season, on a give-and-go with Jake Lucchini to make it 2-1 at the 3:36 mark of the frame. However, the advantage lasted only 38 seconds as Amerks’ forward Arttu Ruotsalainen knotted the score. Despite being outshot 32-17 in regulation, Rochester forced extra time.
In overtime, Ruotsalainen struck once again, notching the game-winner, beating the final buzzer on a partial breakaway.
“I thought it was certainly a game that over the 60 minutes we deserved the two points, but that’s not how hockey works and Aaron Dell was very good, specifically in the first two periods,” said head coach Troy Mann. “I can’t fault the effort, the compete, we’re physical and did a lot of good things, just at the end of the day we didn’t get the extra point.”
Filip Gustavsson made 18 saves in the loss.
The Belleville Senators return to action tonight, hosting the Rochester Americans. You can hear the game on the Senators’ Official Broadcast Partner 800 AM CJBQ. Coverage begins at 6:50 p.m. with Jack Miller and David Foot.
