The Christmas holidays will be a little merrier for the Belleville Senators, who head into the break on a winning note, after defeating the Toronto Marlies 4-3 at CAA Arena on Friday night.
It wasn’t a great start for the Sens, who gave up the game’s first goal just over a minute into the game. Former Belleville captain Logan Shaw knocked in a rebound after a Kieffer Bellows shot. But Belleville answered just 26 seconds later, through Tyler Boucher’s first career AHL goal, coming off the wall and beating Dennis Hildeby with a long shot.
Kyle Clifford put Toronto back in front midway through the second, but Roby Jarventie would deflect in a pass from Garrett Pilon inside the frame’s final minute, to tie it again, 2-2.
Belleville took its first lead 25 seconds into the third period, by way of a Zack Ostapchuk goal, finishing off a nice dump-and-chase play with Cole Reinhardt and Lassi Thomson. Clifford would add his second with under three minutes left to tie it, but Belleville responded less than a minute later again, getting the game winner from Matt Highmore.
MORE BELOW
Fast Facts:
- The Senators head into the Christmas break with a .500 winning percentage (11-11-2-2)
- #10 Zack Ostapchuk scored his sixth goal of the season and had three shots on goal
- #16 Tyler Boucher scored his first career AHL goal
- #22 Garrett Pilon had two assists, giving him three points over his last two games
- #31 Kevin Mandolese earned his third win of the season, making 31 saves on 34 shots
- #34 Roby Jarventie scored his fifth goal of the season to give him a three game point streak (one goal, two assists)
- Belleville was 0/2 on the power play and 3/3 on the penalty kill
