The Belleville Senators kicked off a four game American swing with a 4-1 win over the Providence Bruins Friday night.
The game was a chippy one right from the start with coinciding roughing minors dished out to Belleville’s Scott Sabourin and Providence’s Ian McKinnon inside the first minute of play.
Just before the midway point of the period the B-Sens had a five-on-three opportunity following two quick Providence penalties but were unable to capitalize.
Just past the halfway mark the B-Sens finally cracked the score sheet as Jake Lucchini scored his team leading 10th goal to take a 1-0 lead.
Three minutes after that the lead was extended when Sabourin scored his third and after killing off an Andrew Agozzino cross-checking minor Belleville carried the lead into the intermission.
The second period featured plenty more rough stuff as both teams combined for ten penalties in the frame but neither team was able to capitalize on the man advantage.
Providence got on the board just under seven minutes into the period when Jakub Lauko tipped a pass and sent Jack Studnicka in on a breakaway and he scored to cut the lead in half.
The third period was quieter in terms of penalties but with seconds remaining on a Patrick Polino roughing minor Belleville’s Lassi Thomson scored to extend the lead to 3-1.
Minutes later Chris Wilkie, who came over from the Rockford IceHogs when Belleville was short players, scored his fourth as a Senator to seal the deal on a 4-1 Belleville win.
Kevin Mandolese stopped 24 of 25 shots to collect the win and Scott Sabourin took first star honours for the night after completing the Gordie Howe Hat Trick.
After the game Belleville Head Coach Troy Mann said he was happy with the night’s performance.
“I thought our game was real good for 60 minutes. I did think, or at least felt, that we had control of the game for the most part. Certainly, at 2-1 they made a little bit of a push but then we got a couple of key penalty kills and once we got that third one I felt real good about the game overall and I felt that the two points were coming our way.”
The night’s first star said that he was glad to contribute to starting the road trip off on the right foot.
“I felt good, you know, I got a couple bounces early which always helps the confidence and the legs. The physicality is the physicality, it’s always going to be part of it. I guess, you know, they took exception to it so it was what it was but I thought as a team we played a good game and we’re trending in the right direction.”
The win snapped a three game losing streak for the B-Sens who now turn their attention to Sunday when they have a date with the Bridgeport Islanders.
The game starts at 3 p.m. with live coverage beginning on 800 CJBQ just before game time.
