The Belleville Senators can still qualify for the Calder Cup Playoffs, but they’ll need a lot more help, after dropping a 3-2 decision at home to the Toronto Marlies on Wednesday.
Both teams traded chances through the first 10:00 with Belleville eventually getting off the mark at 10:51.
Darren Archibald kept a puck in at the right point and got it down low around the net to Christian Wolanin, who had chased in off the point and the defender fed a pass back to Joseph LaBate streaking in, with his wrist shot catching a peice of Kasimir Kaskisuo, but trickling over the goal line.
Toronto would counter at 17:43 after a Kristians Rubins wrist shot from the point got tipped past Marcus Hogberg by Adam Brooks, to tie it 1-1.
Shots in the first period were 7-6 Marlies.
Back to back power plays to start the second benefitted Belleville as the Senators would take a 2-1 lead at 3:36.
Wolanin zipped a diagonal pass to Drake Batherson at the right point and his low shot was tipped home by Jack Rodewald, for his 22nd goal of the season and 100th point of his AHL career.
Belleville Senators forward Joseph LaBate celebrates his goal against the Toronto Marlies, at CAA Arena, on April 10, 2019. (Photo: Jason Scourse / Belleville Senators)
But a 1:18 lapse would see Belleville give up their lead and end up making the difference in the game.
At 12:28 Mason Marchment outraced Wolanin and Cody Goloubef to a puck in front of the Bellevillle net and surprised Hogberg with a low shot between the legs to make it 2-2.
Then at 13:56 Jame Oleksy walked in and got a shot on goal, with Michael Carcone jamming in a rebound to put Toronto up 3-2 after two.
There was no scoring in the third period.
B-Sens Head Coach Troy Mann says that brief defensive lapse is what cost them the valuable two points.
He adds, the defeat was a significant blow to the team’s playoff chances, but they can’t quit with two games to play.
Belleville Captain Erik Burgdoerfer says the tight-checking defence they’re seeing from opponents can be used as a learning experience from some of the younger players on the team.
The loss means Belleville still trails Cleveland by one point for the final playoff spot, but the Monsters hold a game in hand and Belleville only has two games left to play, in Toronto on Saturday and at home to Rochester on Sunday.
Both of those games can be heard on 800 AM CJBQ, for Eastern Overhead Doors and Deerhaven Farm and Garden, with pregame coverage at 3:50 p.m. on Saturday and 1:50 p.m. on Sunday.
The B-Sens will need to win at least one, but likely both of those remaining games and will need Cleveland to slip up in its remaining games against Charlotte and Toronto.
You can click here to read the box score from Wednesday night and see highlights from the game below.
