The Belleville Senators finished up their weekend home set as the Bridgeport Islanders came into town to finish up the season series, losing 4-3 in overtime.
It took just over ten minutes for the first goal to be scored, as the Islanders struck first. Off a takeaway in the Bridgeport zone, Liam Foudy used his speed on a breakaway and put home his fourth of the season to give Bridgeport a 1-0 lead.
The second period saw Bridgeport continue to get some puck luck. Off a two-man advantage, former Senator Matthew Highmore snuck one through after some quick passing from Matthew Maggio and Alex Jefferies to make it a 2-0 game. The Senators were quick to answer, as a shorthanded tally got them on the scoresheet. A tenacious Jan Jenik forced a turnover and sprung a two-on-one, beating Henrik Tikkanen to trim the gap to 2-1. The Islanders would not be done just yet as they were able to add in another. A Highmore pass connected with Cole McWard who was able to slip one through restoring the two-goal margin, at 3-1. Belleville responded once again later in the period, as crisp puck movement from high to low by Xavier Bourgault and Jorian Donovan opened space for Arthur Kaliyev’s one-timer, cutting the score to 3-2.
The final twenty minutes saw the Senators get an early power-play opportunity. A Jamieson Rees pass up top to Scott Harrington set up a quick transition over to Lassi Thomson, who scored his fifth goal of the season to tie the game at 3-3 and force overtime.
In a back-and-forth overtime period, Jefferies and Adam Beckman forced a scramble in front, allowing McWard to bury the game-winner and secure a 4-3 final.
The was the Senators final meeting versus the Islanders this season finishing 0-1-1-0. Belleville is now 7-4-1-0 in the last five seasons against Bridgeport.
Belleville will have some time off before starting a small road in Rochester against the Americans (AHL affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres) on Friday December 19th at Blue Cross Arena for a 7:05 p.m. puck drop.
See the game highlights here.
