(Photo: Belleville Senators)
Max Reinhart scored twice as the Belleville Senators avoided a season sweep against the Charlotte Checkers with a 5-2 win Wednesday night.
The Sens also got goals from Daniel Ciampini, Jim O’Brien and Max McCormick while Ethan Werek had three assists. Chris Driedger made 27 saves for his first win of the season.
Charlotte got goals from Roland McKeown and Mike Ferrantino while Jeremy Smith made 18 saves.
Reinhart got the Sens on the board early for the second straight night as he converted Werek’s centering pass just 4:24 in for his fourth goal of the season.
Charlotte tied things with just 2:20 to play in the period as McKeown scored his second goal of the year but Belleville bounced back in the second as first Ciampini restored the Sens lead with a nice play on the defensive end before going end-to-end to bury his second goal of the year at 3:55 before O’Brien had the game-winner at 13:27 after showing off some quick hands in front of the net.
Ferrantino’s second goal of the year made it 3-2 before the end of the second but Reinhart’s second of the game made it 4-2 at 9:04 as he buried a one-timer off of Werek’s pass to beat Smith.
McCormick completed the scoring with an empty-net goal with just 45 seconds left to seal the Sens’ ninth win of the season.
Neither team could convert on the man advantage as the Senators failed on four occasions while Charlotte couldn’t score on two opportunities.
Belleville is back in action Saturday afternoon as they will face the Toronto Marlies for the first time this season. Saturday’s game takes place at the Air Canada Centre with puck drop at 1:30 p.m. CJBQ will have the call with Jack Miller starting at 1:20 Saturday.
