The following was submitted by the Belleville Senators.
The Belleville Senators wrapped up a four-game homestand with another exciting Battle of Ontario on Saturday night, but came out on the wrong end of the result, being edged 4-3 in a shootout by the Toronto Marlies.
It took just 1:40 for the Marlies to open the scoring, as Max Ellis finished a passing play from Kyle Clifford and Joseph Blandisi. Leevi Merilainen was caught at the wrong side of the net, allowing Toronto to take the early lead. But, Belleville would answer back with three straight goals from Lassi Thomson, Matthew Highmore and Dillon Heatherington.
Thomson steamed down the right wing side and picked the top short side corner past Keith Petruzzelli at 5:24. Then, Highmore snapped home a wrist shot from the slot, on the power play at 10:40 and Heatherington found the top-right corner from the left wing side at 13:23. Alex Steeves would score Toronto’s only other two goals, at 3:31 of the second period and 1:59 of the third. The Senators had to kill off a penalty in overtime, but still mustered three shots on goal, before having to go to a five round shootout.
Roby Jarventie and Josh Currie both scored on their attempts for Belleville, while Steves, Nick Robertson and Max Ellis counted for Toronto.
Fast Facts:
- Leevi Merilainen made 32 saves, after being called up from the Allen Americans (ECHL) after Friday night’s game
- Defenceman Cameron Supryka made his American Hockey League debut, after signing a PTO from the Toledo Walleye (ECHL). He becomes the first Belleville-born player in franchise history to play for the club
- Dillon Heatherington and Roby Jarventie each scored their first goal of the season
- Max Guenette and Egor Sokolov each had two assists, Guenette was named second star of the game
- Matthew Highmore stretched his point streak to three games with a goal tonight. He’s collected four points over that span (two goals, two assists).
- The Senators went 1/6 on the power play and 6/6 on the penalty kill
