The Belleville Senators marked the 100th home game in franchise history in memorable fashion, as they came from behind to beat the Laval Rocket 3-2 in overtime and extend their win streak seven games.
It was the fourth time in the season series that Belleville and Laval had gone to overtime or a shootout, with Belleville winning on three of those occasions.
JC Beaudin, Erik Brannstrom and Alex Formenton scored for Belleville and Filip Gustavsson made 20 saves in the win, while Cayden Primeau made 30 stops at the other end.
Charles Hudon and Riley Barber each scored for the Rocket in the loss.
The Rocket struck first when Hubert Labrie couldn’t clear the puck up the near boards and Jesperi Kotkaniemi, down from NHL Montreal, picked it up and sent it across to Hudon, who knocked it in at 3:46.
Belleville tied things up about 8:30 later when Joseph LaBate got the puck behind the goal and fed it in front to J.C. Beaudin who buried his fourth goal of the season and first even strength goal of the year, after scoring three shorthanded.
The B-Sens would take their first lead 30 seconds after that on a two-man advantage as Erik Brannstrom’s half-slap shot from the point found its way past Cayden Primeau to make it 2-1.
Shots after the first period were 13-9 Belleville.
Belleville Senators forward Morgan Klimchuk skates up the ice, during a game against the Laval Rocket at CAA Arena, on February 8, 2020. (Photo: Jason Scourse / Belleville Senators)
There was no scoring through the most of the of the second and very few shots as well, but Laval would get even at 17:47 on a two-man advantage of their own.
They worked the puck around low in the Belleville zone, getting Gustavsson moving side-to-side and Barber finished off a play from Kotkaniemi and Hudon at 17:47.
The injury bug bit again as well with Beaudin having to leave the game earlier in the period.
He lost an edge and seemed to twist his knee, deep in his own end and had to push himself to the bench with one leg, as play continued.
Senators’ Head Coach Troy Mann said postgame that Beaudin went to hospital to have x-rays on a suspected high ankle sprain and would be re-evaluated on Tuesday.
Belleville peppered the Laval net and outshot the rocket 15-5 in the third period but Primeau was excellent and helped get the game to overtime.
Laval would get three shots early in the extra frame and force Gustavsson to make a trio of outstanding stops to keep the game going.
Those saves would make a huge difference as just moments later Formenton skated from blue line to blue line and beat Primeau between the legs to win the game for Belleville.
Belleville Senators goaltender FIlip Gustavsson was named the first star in a 3-2 overtime win against the Laval Rocket, at CAA Arena, on February 8, 2020. (Photo: Jason Scourse / Belleville Senators)
Mann told Quinte News post game he felt that may have been his team’s best game of the week in terms of their play without the puck and dealing with the absence of some key offensive threats.
Gustavsson says he had a good feeling about things after making the big saves in overtime.
Belleville is off until next Friday when they host the Toronto Marlies again.
800 AM CJBQ’s coverage begins next week at 6:50 p.m. for Eastern Overhead Doors and Deerhaven Farm and Garden.
You can click here to read the box score from Saturday night and see highlights from the game below.
