Senators shut out 3-0 in final Wednesday night tilt versus Comets

The Belleville Senators closed out their last Wednesday night game of the year with a 3–0 defeat.

It took more than halfway through the first frame to see the opening goal, and it was Utica getting things started. A quick pass up to Angus Crookshank from Lenni Hameenaho saw the former Senator use his weight well, cut inside, and score his twenty-second goal for a 1-0 lead.

The second period had much of the same feel as the Comets continued to push. Just over seven and a half minutes in, an odd-angle shot from the side of the net by Matyas Melovsky sneaked in, with assists from Colton White and Xavier Parent, making it a 2-0 game. Utica kept up the pressure, extending their lead. A feed from Austin Strand up the middle found Crookshank, who walked in on a three-on-two and buried his second of the night to make it 3-0.

The third and final period had both teams generate their fair share of chances, recording eleven shots each while also going 0-for-1 on the power play. The Senators were unable to muster any goals in the final twenty minutes, resulting in a 3-0 final score. Comets goaltender Jakub Malek stopped all 25 shots for his third shutout, while Senators netminder Kevin Reidler, in his AHL debut, turned aside 26 of 29 shots.

Tonight marked the final contest of the season for the Senators and Comets. Belleville finished the season 4–6–0–0 versus Utica and is now 27-24-5-0 all-time.

The Senators will end off their season with a home-and-home series against the Syracuse Crunch, starting this Friday back at CAA Arena. Belleville and Syracuse will hit the ice for a 7:00 p.m. start.

Fast Facts:

#17 Blake Montgomery registered two shots in his AHL/Senators debut
#25 Ryan O’Rourke recorded six shots on goal
#36 Luke Mistelbacher made his AHL/Senators debut
#43 Arthur Kaliyev put six shots on goal
#45 Kevin Reidler saved 26 of 29 in his AHL/Senators debut
The Senators went 1/1 on the penalty kill