The Manitoba Moose’s three-goal lead in the second period wouldn’t last as the Belleville Senators scored six unanswered goals to take the first game of a two-game weekend set at the Canada Life Centre. Belleville improved to 10-4-4 while Manitoba fell to 6-12-0 after Friday, December 6th’s contest.
Returning to the lineup was Chaz Lucius after a lengthy stint on the injured list, but he wasted no time making an impact as he got the Moose on the board early in the first period with his first goal of the season. Defensemen Elias Salomonsson held the puck behind the net for an extended period before finally connecting a tape-to-tape pass to eventual goal scorer Chaz Lucius. Lucius got into the offensive zone and rifled the puck high blocker side for the early 1-0 lead.
“It felt really good. Kinda like a weight was lifted off my chest. I don’t know how long it’s been since I scored a goal but it’s been a really long time so I’m glad I got it out of the way early.” Chaz Lucius on scoring his first goal since November 23rd, 2023.
Later in the frame, Salomonsson would have the puck on his stick again after receiving a nice drop pass from Lucius. Salomonsson would then walk the blueline and send a rocket into traffic just in front of the net and Parker Ford would tip the puck in for his third goal of the season and put the Moose up 2-0 to end the first period.
Manitoba spent the opening seconds of the second period on the penalty kill, including an early shorthanded breakaway chance by Dominic Toninato, but was ultimately turned aside.
The Senators whipped together some extended time in the Moose’s zone, but Dylan Anhorn’s steady efforts cleared the puck and cleared the front of the crease for Kaapo Kahkonen. Shortly after, Belleville turned the puck over where Toninato had time and space and found Jaret Anderson-Dolan who beat Belleville’s goaltender low glove side from distance to make it a 3-0 game for the Moose.
Manitoba’s lead wouldn’t last long as they were being called for slashing, but Xavier Bourgault scored on the delayed call. Minutes later, Donovan Sebrango would receive a pass from former Manitoba Moose, Wyatt Bongiovanni, and shoot it into the shoulders of Kahkonen. The puck jumped above Kahkonen and behind him where Tyler Boucher would pick up his first of the season and bring Belleville within one goal, putting the pressure on Manitoba in a 3-2 game.
In the dying minutes of the second period, the Moose and Senators were neck and neck when it came to the momentum in the game, but Belleville broke free after Manitoba bobbled the puck and Angus Crookshank scored low glove side on Kahkonen. The late period-tying goal was enough to shift momentum completely into Belleville’s favour.
Belleville and Manitoba were square for the first five minutes of the third period, but Keean Washkurak broke the deadlock and gave Belleville their first lead of the game. Toninato boarded Washkurak and Washkurak wanted a boarding call, but popped back up immediately once Maxence Guenette had the breakaway and Washkurak would score the go-ahead goal on a tap-in.
The Moose kept Belleville at bay for the remainder of the period and pulled Kahkonen in the final three minutes of the period, but two empty net goals by Garrett Pilon and Stephen Halliday put the finishing touches on this Friday evening matchup.
Chaz Lucius and Jaret Anderson-Dolan both picked up two points (1G, 1A) while Elias Salomonsson picked up two assists.
Salomonsson left the game in the third period after taking a big hit into the boards. He would not return to the game and there was no update available on Salomonsson.
Belleville and Manitoba will be back in action tonight at 6:00 pm CST, Saturday, December 7th, for the Teddy Bear Toss game.
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