The Belleville Senators earned their first-ever Calder Cup Playoff victory in dominating fashion, out-skating the rival Toronto Marlies to a 3-1 win at CAA Arena on Wednesday night.
Toronto got a bit of luck and a fortunate bounce, to open up the scoring about three and a half minutes into the game. Marshall Rifai’s wrist shot from the point hit a leg and snuck past Mads Sogaard. But Belleville would get even about 13 minutes later when Zack Ostapchuk busted over the Toronto line and snapped a low shot past Dennis Hildeby to tie the game 1-1. The B-Sens controlled the play in the first period as well and outshot the Marlies 13-4.
Belleville nudged in front inside the opening minute of the second period, by way of a nice passing play between Garrett Pilon and Tyler Kleven. The veteran forward, Pilon, rushed up the left side and cut to the middle, then fed the puck back left for the rookie defender. Kleven went to the backhand and popped the puck upstairs on Hildeby. Ostapchuk would get on the scoresheet again about 10 minutes later feeding Currie who was able to put his first of the playoffs past Hildeby. The Senators again had the shot count in their favour in the period, with 15 to Toronto’s eight.
There was no scoring in the third, with Sogaard stopping six more shots and Belleville putting another 10 on Hildeby. The two teams will tangle again on Friday in Toronto, with Belleville having a chance to wrap up the series with a win.
Fast Facts:
- #6 Donovan Sebrango picked up his first career AHL playoff point, with an assist, in his first career Calder Cup Playoff game.
- #9 Angus Crookshank made his Calder Cup Playoff debut.
- #10 Zack Ostapchuk made his Calder Cup Playoff debut and contributed a goal and an assist. He was named the game’s first star.
- #17 Stephen Halliday made his Calder Cup Playoff debut.
- #18 Josh Currie picked up a goal and an assist. He was named the game’s second star.
- #21 Max Guenette made his Calder Cup Playoff debut and had an assist.
- #22 Garrett Pilon chipped in an assist, along with three shots on net.
- #23 Cole Reinhardt had a game-high four shots on goal.
- #25 Tyler Kleven made his Calder Cup Playoff debut and scored his first career postseason goal.
- #39 Jiri Smejkal made his Calder Cup Playoff debut.
- #40 Mads Sogaard earned his first Calder Cup Playoff win, in his first game, stopping 17 of 18 shots he faced.
- #45 Ryan MacKinnon made his Calder Cup Playoff debut.
- #52 Nikolas Matinpalo made his Calder Cup Playoff debut.
Highlights:
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