| FINAL | 2017-18 Season, Game 55 | Monday February 19, 2018 Yardmen Arena, Belleville, ON |
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SENATORS |
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4-5 |
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COMETS |
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LineupForward lines and defense pairings: [one_half]Rodewald – O’Brien – Gagne [one_half_last]Englund – Pokka Goaltenders: Scratches: Vincent Dunn, Erik Burgdoerfer Injured Reserve: Christian Jaros, Francis Perron, Kyle Flanagan Game ReportThe Belleville Senators got back to work in a rare Monday afternoon tilt with the Utica Comets. Belleville was looking to bounce back after a 3-0 loss Saturday night at the hands of the Hershey Bears, but the Comets were one of the leagues hottest teams headed into this game and posed a tough challenge. The opening frame was all Comets. Though Belleville came out with a lot of energy, Utica found their game and did not relent. Tony Cameranesi opened up the scoring with a quick shot off a face-off that fooled Taylor to make it 1-0. Zack MacEwen quickly doubled the Comets lead five minutes later with a beautiful wrist shot. Finally, Reid Boucher beat a helpless Danny Taylor was taken out by his own player to make it 3-0. After one, the Comets led by three. To start the second period, the Senators found themselves with a two-man advantage after two late penalties from the Comets. They made them pay with a pair of power play goals. Ben Sexton got Belleville on the board just 29 seconds into the second period. Then it was Nick Paul scoring to bring the Sens back within one. But like the first period, the Comets got on track after a slow start. After a save from Marcus Hogberg, who replaced Taylor to start the second, the puck took a strange bounce right to Wacey Hamilton, who buried it to make it 4-2. Later in the period, the Comets scored off another face-off in the Belleville end. This time David Dziurzynski beat Hogberg after the puck bounced hard off the end boards. He was the first to react and he restored the Comets three-goal lead. After 40 minutes, the Senators trailed 5-2. The third period was all Senators. After a Colin White hooking penalty, Belleville found themselves short-handed. But Mike Blunden forced a turnover at the Belleville blue-line and sent Sexton in alone on Richard Bachman. Sexton wired his second of the game past Bachman to bring Belleville back within two. Not long after, it looked as though Belleville had scored again courtesy of Andreas Englund, but after a very brief review the officials determined that Englund kicked the puck in. Belleville and the fans did not agree with the call, but it was beyond their control and they headed back to work. The Senators were on the power play late in the game after a Michael Carcone boarding penalty. Sexton scored again to make it a one-goal game, completing the hat-trick. Unfortunately, that was as close as Belleville came, they dropped this one 5-4. Belleville deserved a better fate in this one and if not for the questionable call on the Englund goal, perhaps the game would have turned out differently. The Senators are now off until Friday when they head out on the road to visit the Binghamton Devils. ▲ Ben Sexton ▼ |
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| Statistics | ||
| SENATORS | COMETS | |
| 34 | Shots | 38 |
| 3 for 9 | Power Play | 0 for 2 |
| 4 | Penalty Minutes | 16 |
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| AHL Three Stars | ||
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| Video highlights |
| Post-game interview | |
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Quotes courtesy of AHL Report |
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