For the second time in as many nights and for pretty much all of their six game season series, the Belleville Senators and Rochester Americans played another low-scoring, tight-checking game on Saturday night, with Rochester skating to a 4-2 win and sweeping the back-to-back games at CAA Arena over the weekend.
Once again the Amerks gain more ground on Belleville, who sit atop the North Division, with the B-Sens’ lead shrinking to six points.
It’s also the first time the Senators have lost back-to-back games in regulation since November 16 and 20.
Belleville’s best moments were early in the game, after they couldn’t score on a power play 15 seconds in, but would open the scoring after a brief delay around the 3:00 mark.
The Amerks’ Casey Nelson collided with Kevin Porter at the Belleville line and the play was blown dead, as he was bleeding on the ice, which had to be cleaned up.
Off the ensuing faceoff Lajoie wired a laser beam wrist shot into the top right corner to make it 1-0.
Rochester would turn the tables halfway through the period, picking up the physical play along the boards, winning more puck battles and putting eight straight shots at the Belleville net, but Dubeau was able to handle the spurt of high workload.
Belleville Senators forward Alex Formenton battles for position, during a game against the Rochester Americans at CAA Arena, on March 7, 2020. (Photo: Jason Scourse / Belleville Senators)
Both teams would get some chances early in the period including a Rochester three-on-one rush shorthanded, which was thwarted by a glove save from Dubeau and an opportunity for Vitaly Abramov on the Amerks’ doorstep, met by the blocker of Johansson.
Rochester would tie the game midway through the second on the power play after Leier’s shot bounced up into the air and past Dubeau to even the score 1-1.
But Belleville would answer just 37 seconds later when Batherson one-timed his 16th of the year past Johansson, off a pass from Abramov out of the far corner and give the B-Sens the lead after two periods.
The Amerks tied the game 2-2 less than 3:00 into the third with Bryson’s second in as many nights.
Zach Redmond curled around the Belleville net and fed a pass out to the near circle, with Bryson charging into it and driving a slap shot between the legs of Dubeau.
Rochester controlled the play through the period as well, even getting a couple of shorthanded chances, during a Senators’ power play, then a couple more on a man advantage of their own, but again Dubeau continued to be solid in the Belleville goal.
The Amerks would break through with just 1:12 to go though, on a clean faceoff win in the Belleville zone.
The puck came straight back to William Borgen who slammed a long slapper by Dubeau.
Sean Malone added the empty netter to finish things off.
Belleville Senators forward Filip Chlapik carries the puck around the net, during a game against the Rochester Americans at CAA Arena, on March 7, 2020. (Photo: Jason Scourse / Belleville Senators)
Senators Coach Troy Mann says he thought his team put together a better effort compared to Friday’s loss.
He added that they’ll have to refocus ahead of three divisional road games next week.
The Senators’ three-game road trip has them stop in Laval (Wednesday), Utica (Friday) and Syracuse (Saturday).
800 AM CJBQ will have coverage of all of those games for Eastern Overhead Doors and Deerhaven Farm and Garden.
You can click here to see the box score from Saturday night.
