Roster Notes:
Now that Ottawa’s NHL season has ended, the Belleville Sens have some reinforcements on the way. Viktor Lodin returns after making his NHL debut in Philadelphia on Friday night, with Mark Kastelic, Scott Sabourin and Filip Gustavsson also coming back from their recent call-ups. Gustavsson will start in goal today, backed-up by Mitch Gillam. Parker Kelly will also re-join Belleville to help with the playoff run, but won’t play this afternoon. Belleville’s other scratches include Xavier Bernard and Mitchell Hoelscher, who have been returned from the ECHL Atlanta Gladiators, along with Jack Dougherty, Rourke Chartier (IR), Chris Wilkie, Cedric Pare, Max Guenette, Kevin Mandolese (IR) and Mads Sogaard (IR).
Who to Watch:
Senators leading scorer Jake Lucchini, who has 51 points (20 goals, 31 assists) so far this season, will become the only Belleville player to dress in all 72 games this campaign. The native of Trail, BC has five assists in his last six games played and has notched six points (one goal, five assists) in 11 games played against Toronto this season. Egor Sokolov has been Belleville’s best performer against the Marlies in 2021-22, putting up 10 points (four goals, six assists) in 10 games played.
Marlies’ utility player Joseph Duszak, who has played both forward and defence for Toronto this season, was named to the American Hockey League’s 2021-22 Second All-Star Team this week. He sits second in points (52) and assists (45) among AHL defencemen this season. He also has 16 points (three goals, 13 assists) in 20 career games against Belleville, including five points (one goal, four assists) in seven games against the Senators this season.