SENATORS
Belleville

3-2

BRUINS
Providence

Lineup

Forward lines and defense pairings: 

[one_half]DiDomenico – White – Rodewald
McCormick – O’Brien – Blunden
Perron – Reinhart – Gagne
Werek – Ciampini – Randell[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Sieloff – Burgdoerfer
Englund – Jaros
Lajoie – Murray[/one_half_last]

Goaltenders:
Hogberg
Driedger

Scratches: Vincent Dunn, Macoy Erkamps, Danny Taylor, Andrew Hammond

Injured Reserve: Kyle Flanagan, Ben Sexton

Game Report

After a tough result Thursday night against Laval, the Belleville Senators got back in action Saturday with the Providence Bruins in town. They were looking for a bounce back game but were in tough with the Atlantic Division leading Bruins.

The opening period was just what the doctor ordered for Belleville. They had lots of energy, creating turnovers and getting out in transition and applying a hard fore-check. This led to them beating Zane McIntyre just past the midway point of the frame. It was the captain Mike Blunden scoring his second of the season to make it 1-0.

The Senators continued their great play in the first. They kept generating high quality chances off the rush and even on the power play which has ailed them for most of the season. Blunden had another great chance to score off a feed from Max McCormick but McIntyre robbed him with the glove to keep the Bruins within one. After 20, Belleville led 1-0.

The second period was a little more even than the opening frame. Belleville did add to their lead thanks to an Ethan Werek power play marker, but the Bruins stormed back to even the shots at 20 apiece. They kept pouring shots on Marcus Hogberg in the Belleville net and eventually they found the back of the net. It was Chris Breen with a point shot through traffic that eluded Hogberg to bring Providence within one. At the end of two periods, the Senators led 2-1.

In the third period the Bruins tied the game up. Once again, it was a Breen point shot that found its way through, but it was deflected by Anton Blidh on the way through. The Senators played a solid 60 minutes but these teams needed extra time to determine a winner.

In overtime, Chris DiDomenico put on a show. He split a pair of Bruins, almost a third but he was taken down. He did not give up and managed to slide the puck Erik Burgdoerfer while laying on the ice, Burgdoerfer made no mistake to win the game for Belleville.

Belleville got a well-deserved two points in this game, taking this game 3-2. They were the better team in the game tonight in all aspects. Their special teams were much more effective than last time out against Laval, in particular, their power play was dangerous in all opportunities. The Sens get back to work tomorrow in a New Years Eve clash with the Toronto Marlies.

▲      Chris DiDomenico, Erik Burgdoerfer, Mike Blunden, Max McCormick

▼

1. Erik Burgdoerfer  BEL
2. Marcus Hogberg  BEL
3. Mike Blunden  BEL

Quotes courtesy of AHL Report

Teamwork makes the dream work! @BellevilleSens win! #PROvsBEL pic.twitter.com/LneIzz0dcE

— AHL (@TheAHL) December 31, 2017

SENS RECAP | Rocket – Senators: Valiant Belleville Comeback Falls Short https://t.co/Vv3n7GCzJb pic.twitter.com/rxIYpsVWbd

— AHL Report (@TheAHLReport) December 29, 2017

From the Press Box | Rocket Need a Rebound, World Junior Preview [Podcast S1/E14] https://t.co/pd8XBn8Wha pic.twitter.com/VTDZdcNfkd

— AHL Report (@TheAHLReport) December 20, 2017

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