After perhaps their best start to the game of the early American Hockey League season, a rough stretch of just over a minute ended up costing the Belleville Senators on Friday night, as they fell 5-1 to the Hershey Bears (Washington Capitals) at CAA Arena.
In a change from opening weekend, Belleville was able to get on the board first, scoring inside of the first 5:00.
Alex Formenton, who was bumped up to the top line after Nick Paul was called up to Ottawa, sped from his own zone into enemy territory and laid a drop pass on a platter for Jordan Murray.
The third-year Senator slammed a slap shot past Phoenix Copley to open the scoring, but that was all the offence the Sens could muster on the evening.
Hershey would counter with their first goal at 10:37 after a two-on-one rush fell apart inside the Belleville zone.
Brian Pinho followed up the play in the corner and hit Axel Jonsson-Fjallby with a pass in the slot.
The 21 year-old from Stockholm snapped a low wrister by his countrymen Marcus Hogberg, with the help of a deflection off the skate of another fellow Swede in Andreas Englund.
It was 1-1 after the first.
Belleville Senators forward Mike Carcone protects the puck from former B-Sens captain Erik Burgdoerfer of the Hershey Bears, during a game at CAA Arena, on October 18, 2019. (Photo: Jason Scourse / Belleville Senators)
The second period started with a missed Belleville power play opportunity and a handful of chances, before the Bears took the lead.
Michael Sgarbossa screened out Hogberg at 6:17 and tipped home a Christian Djoos shot to make it 2-1.
Djoos came into the game as the leading scoring defenceman in the AHL, while Sgarbossa is within the top 10 in scoring overall.
Belleville’s power play continued to struggle, missing another opportunity to get back in the game at 8:18.
The Senators man advantage unit hasn’t scored in 14 chances to start the season.
Belleville almost drew even midway through the period with a flurry of chances, but Logan Brown’s stick broke on a wrist shot attempt, Filip Chlapik hit a post and Jack Rodewald couldn’t finish a chance created by Mike Carcone.
Things fell apart from there, with Hershey scoring three times within 1:06.
First, Liam O’Brien scored on a one-timer after Philippe Maillet took the puck from Vitaly Abramov at the Belleville blue line, then the Bears forced another turnover in the neutral zone, with Beck Malenstyn walking into the Belleville end and burying, to extend the lead to 4-1.
Then off the ensuing faceoff win Sgarbossa carried the puck deep into the Belleville zone and around the net, before finding Steve Whitney in front, who scored his first of the season.
Both teams had a few chances in the third, while Belleville’s Joseph LaBate and Hershey’s Connor Hobbs exchanged blows in a fight, but that was the extent of the action.
Senators Head Coach Troy Mann says his team’s puck management wasn’t strong enough and their structure fell apart as the night went on.
He added that it’s a learning experience for his team, the youngest in the AHL, about how quickly a game can turn and how important it is to control momentum.
Mann admitted that the power play does need some work but said he was pleased with the penalty kill units, which were perfect in two trips out on Friday night.
The B-Sens are back in action on a quick turnaround Saturday night, as they welcome the Providence Bruins (Boston Bruins) to CAA, for a 7:05 p.m. puck drop.
800 AM CJBQ’s coverage Saturday begins at 6:50 p.m., for Eastern Overhead Doors and Deerhaven Farm and Garden.
You can click here to see the box score from Saturday night and see highlights from the game below.
