While most Sens fans have been watching the Olympics, the BSens have been quietly collapsing in the background. Having already played more games than most of their division rivals, the team needed to keep on winning to have a shot at the playoffs. They have definitely not done that, going 1-4-0 since the last update, with their offense in particular drying up completely. It’s looking like a another playoff miss is in the cards for the beleaguered Belleville faithful.
February 14th: Belleville Senators vs. Hershey Bears(6-3 L)
This was a game where several factors contributed to the BSens loss. Leevi Meriläinen had an atrocious game, giving up 6 goals on 23 shots including some soft goals and some where the defence didn’t bail him out. The other critical factor was the BSens impotent powerplay, going 1/6 and squandering multiple golden opportunities to get the team back in the game. Philippe Daoust and Lassi Thomson were the standouts for the BSens, with Daoust scoring a goal and adding an assist, while Thomson was playing like a man possessed, firing seven shots on goal, driving play, and setting up good scoring chances for his teammates. Stephen Halliday looked rough in this game, especially with the expectation that he would spend the Olympic break dominating the AHL. He looked listless and off his game.
February 16th: Belleville Senators vs. Hershey Bears(3-1 W)
The only win in the last two weeks for the BSens was the rematch with the Bears. It was a bounce back game for the team and for Meriläinen, who got the start again and stopped 30 of 31 shots. Belleville’s defence did a much better job keeping Hershey’s shots to the outside and giving Leevi much easier shots to save. Lassi Thomson got rewarded for his playmaking, assisting on two of Belleville’s goals, while Jorian Donovan also had a strong defensive game, as he stymied a number of Hershey rushes and was able to get the puck up the ice quickly in the other direction. Up front Philippe Daoust had another two point game, while Arthur Kaliyev looked very pedestrian, only managing a single shot on goal.
February 18th: Belleville Senators vs. Syracuse Crunch(2-1 L)
This was a low scoring and low event game, with both teams combining for 45 shots total and playing some grinding, defensive hockey. The Senators penalty kill went 4/4 and Meriläinen made the saves that he could see but the Sens forwards couldn’t sustain offensive zone pressure for any length of time. Belleville’s defence broke before Syracuse’s did and it resulted in a costly regulation loss to a team Belleville is chasing in the playoff race. Carter Yakemchuk didn’t have his usual dynamic offense but made up for it by playing a stronger shutdown game and definitely one of his better outings in his own end that I’ve seen this year. A good team effort comes up short due to a lack of finish, which becomes a trend going forward.
February 20th: Belleville Senators @ Providence Bruins(5-2 L)
A weekend road trip through New England started with a thud as Belleville took a uppercut to the chin from Providence in the Saturday game. The Bruins had the edge over the BSens in shots and chances mid way through the second period but were tied 2-2, thanks to some strong penalty killing from Belleville, including an Olle Lycksell shorthanded goal. The whole game unraveled with about five minutes left in the second period, when the Bruins scored on Meriläinen and then added two more goals in the last minute of the second to jump out to a three goal lead. You would think score effects and being down by multiple goals would lead to a strong effort by the BSens in the third, but their play was far too pedestrian given the circumstances and the Bruins cruised to victory in the third. Arthur Kaliyev scored his 30th goal of the season but that was the only notable play from Belleville’s skaters in an otherwise disappointing game.
February 21st: Belleville Senators @ Hartford Wolf Pack(4-0 L)
The New England road trip continued to be a massive disappointment the following night in Connecticut, with Belleville getting shut out by the Wolf Pack, 4-0. Giving Leevi Meriläinen a break, Made Søgaard got the start, fresh off of his appearance for Denmark at the Milan Olympics. Despite getting four powerplay opportunities, the Senators only managed 20 shots against Spencer Martin and were effectively forechecked and smothered by a strong Hartford defence. Stephen Halliday had his best game of the last two weeks, getting 20% of Belleville’s total shots and showcasing his playmaking skills, despite the lack of finish from his teammates. This was another disappointing game, with the BSens making very little noise in the third period despite only being down two goals and game still being within reach, which is a very concerning trend.
Belleville will need to run the table to make the playoffs and their next four games are against the Utica Comets, the worst team in the division so there is a chance to make up some ground. The reasonable expectation for the rest of the season is to see Meriläinen get some confidence and improve his play, while Carter Yakemchuk continues refining his defensive game.
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