Sinclair started and was pulled after 4:28 of first right after Utica scored, but was back in net 2:17 later and played the rest of the game, equipment problem/ slight injury no idea.
Utica took the lead just over four minutes into the game when Mike Hardman drove to the net front and slid a backhander past Sinclair, and an ensuing equipment issue forced Belleville to swap to Michael Simpson in goal early. Sinclair returned at the first timeout.
Roster Notes:
The Senators recalled forward Jake Chiasson from Orlando (ECHL) on Saturday morning. The 21-year old has played 15 games for Belleville so far this season. Before the game, you can
click here for a full list of up-to-date transactions, with lineup details available via the B-Sens social channels (@bellevillesens).
Who to Watch:
It will be a big day for Senators forward Cole Reinhardt. Not only does the Irricana, Alberta product celebrate his 25th birthday today, but he is also projected to play his 241st career game in a Belleville Senators uniform. That will break the franchise record previously held by Egor Sokolov, who dressed in 240 games from 2020 to 2024. Despite significant time in Ottawa with the big club this season, Reinhardt continues to be a key catalyst for Belleville this year, tallying 17 points (7 goals, 10 assists) in 15 AHL games. Meanwhile, despite the shutout on Friday night, Sens defenceman Jeremy Davies’ four-point night on Wednesday put him into a tie for fourth among all AHL defencemen in point scoring this season, with 28 of them in 37 games.
For Utica, Mike Hardman was the only player to find the scoresheet on Friday night with his 12th goal of the campaign, ranking him third on the Comets this season. The 25-year old and first-year Comet from Hanover, Mass. has scored at least a goal in three of the four games he’s played against Belleville this season, and has both game-winners for the Comets, after he scored the overtime goal on New Year’s Eve at CAA Arena in a 4-3 Comets win. He is on a career point scoring pace this season, ranking fifth on the team with 12 goals and 8 assists in 32 games.