SENATORS
Belleville

4-3

CRUNCH
Syracuse

Lineup

Forward lines and defense pairings: 

[one_half]Werek – Paul – O’Brien
McCormick – White – Sexton
Perron – Chlapik – Gagne
Vaive – Reinhart – Randell[/one_half]

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

Goaltenders:
Hammond
Taylor

Scratches: Marcus Hogberg, Thomas Chabot, Vincent Dunn, Macoy Erkamps, Daniel Ciampini

Injured Reserve: Chris Driedger, Mike Blunden, Kyle Flanagan

Game Report

After concluding their nine-game road trip to open the season, the Belleville Senators had their inaugural home opener Wednesday night, with the Syracuse Crunch in town. The Senators were looking to take their first game in Yardmen Arena and win their third straight in the process.

The first period opened at a hectic pace. The teams exchanged chances for most of the first half of the period. But after some big open ice collisions on Michael Peca and Justin Vaive, the game took a turn. Andreas Englund and Adam Erne dropped the gloves. This resulted in Englund getting an extra two minutes for instigating.

On the ensuing power play, Cory Conacher finished off a beautiful passing play to open the scoring. With just one minute remaining in the period, the teams exchanged goals. Francis Perron fired one past Michael Leighton to tie it with just 47 seconds remaining in the frame. But with just a second left, Syracuse crashed the Senators net and Dominick Masin jammed it past Andrew Hammond to restore their lead. After 20 minutes, Syracuse led 2-1.

The second period brought some more of the same. More fighting between the tow teams, but the Senators got to work on the scoreboard. Filip Chlapik scored just under four minutes into the frame to tie it 2-2.

However, the Crunch would come right back again to retake the lead. Another one from Conacher to make it 3-2. But Belleville answered yet again after a brutal turnover in the Crunch zone lead to a three-on-one. Ethan Werek made no mistake, tapping it past Leighton to tie it 3-3. The teams headed to the dressing rooms tied heading into the third.

The third period was uneventful. The physicality between the two sides toned down and there were not any high quality chances other than a Max Reinhart shot that found iron. So for the third consecutive game, the Senators needed extra time.

In overtime, Erik Burgdoerfer hauled down Mitchell Stephens as he was streaking to the net, Syracuse headed to the man advantage. The Belleville penalty kill dazzled in the extra frame, Max McCormick received a loud ovation from the crowd after blocking three shots in the same sequence. Thanks to the Senators penalty kill, this game headed to a shootout.

In the shootout, Gabriel Gagne wound up and slapped one past Leighton. That was the only goal of the shootout, as the Senators won 4-3.

The Senators won their inaugural home opener over the Crunch, now they wait for Friday when the Charlotte Checkers are in town for a two-game set.

▲ Francis Perron, Gabriel Gagne, Filip Chlapik, Max McCormick, Erik Burgdoerfer

▼

1. Gabriel Gagne BEL
2. Cory Conacher SYR
3. Filip Chlapik BEL

Quotes courtesy of AHL Report

FINAL: The #BellevilleSens win their historic home-opener 4-3 as @gabgagne27 gets the winner in a shootout! #itBegins pic.twitter.com/lX8fEks0XA

— Belleville Senators (@BellevilleSens) November 2, 2017

RECAP | Senators – Moose: Chlapik Comes Up Clutch in Return https://t.co/3Gxy9mmTRQ pic.twitter.com/IfhvhbOz4U

— AHL Report (@TheAHLReport) October 29, 2017

From the Press Box | Rocket Recap, Roster Moves, and Halloween Top 5 [Podcast S1/E7] https://t.co/G6IFlBIIwa pic.twitter.com/aiO9RRgtuW

— AHL Report (@TheAHLReport) October 31, 2017

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