The Belleville Senators swept their two-game set in Rochester this week with a thrilling 2-1 shootout win over the Americans at Blue Cross Arena.
After a scoreless first period that saw Belleville control the play and outshoot Rochester 7-5, the Americans would draw first blood just past the midway point of the second. Mason Jobst got in on the left-wing side and wrapped the puck around the net, tucking it past the outstretched leg of Mads Sogaard. Sogaard would end up leaving the game after that play with an apparent injury and was replaced by Kevin Mandolese, and Belleville couldn’t get the game tied within the final 9:50 of the period.
The Senators would tie the game late in the third period, thanks to a Zack MacEwen deflection from a Jacob Larsson point shot and Mandolese would make some outstanding saves through the rest of regulation and in overtime, to force the shootout. Belleville also had to kill off a penalty with about 45 seconds left in the extra frame.
Mandolese would stop three-of-four shooters in the shootout, while Rourke Chartier and Matt Highmore both beat Dustin Tokarski to give Belleville the win.
The Sens are now off to Syracuse where they’ll take on the Crunch on Saturday night.
Fast Facts:
- #4 Jacob Larsson registered an assist on the game-tying goal.
- #9 Angus Crookshank had five shots on goal.
- #14 Rourke Chartier scored on his shootout attempt.
- #15 Matt Highmore scored the shootout winner.
- #17 Zack MacEwen scored the game-tying goal, his fifth goal of the season and had four shots on goal. He was named the game’s second star.
- #31 Kevin Mandolese stopped all 11 shots he faced in regulation and overtime, in a relief appearance, before stopping 3/4 shooters in the shootout.
- #39 Jiri Smejkal had an assist on the game-tying goal and has points in back-to-back games
- #40 Mads Sogaard made 13/14 saves before leaving the game with an apparent injury in the second period.
- The Senators were 0/4 on the power play and 3/3 on the ViewTech Window and Door penalty kill.
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