With points in eight straight games, the Belleville Senators tighten the playoff race in the North Division.
After a 20-game stretch in which they won just four times (4-12-4-0), the Senators are 6-0-2-0 as of January 10. The team saw a leadership change on December 17 with Andrew Campbell taking over as interim head coach. The selection has had 63 transactions this season, 21 of which were in January alone. Only three players – forward Keean Washkurak and defenders Cameron Crotty And Jorian Donovan – have dressed for all 44 games this season. Goalkeepers Mads Sogaard, Hunter Shepard And Leevi Merilainen continue cycling between Belleville and Ottawa. Injuries and recalls have hampered the lineup.
And now the Senators are in the teeth of a seven-game road trip that concludes with four key division matchups, in Cleveland this Friday and Saturday and at Rochester and Syracuse next week.
And yet here they are, in the middle of a North Division playoff race that only eight points separate the top six teams in the division.
Last week, Belleville earned three of a possible four points from the top two teams in the Eastern Conference, mounting a third-period comeback with a 3-2 win over Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and collecting a hard-earned point in a 2-1 overtime loss at Providence. Meriläinen then delivered a 40-save shutout to close out the first leg of the road in Springfield.
“Kudos to the guys for finding a way,” Campbell said after the 1-0 win over the Thunderbirds.
Belleville has fewer games in hand (28) than any other team in the league, so every point from here on out is crucial. A productive weekend against sixth-ranked Cleveland could give the Sens some breathing room; sputter and they’re back out of the playoff picture.
All of this is familiar territory for Belleville, a team that always seems to be in these second-half playoff chases. Last season they missed the postseason by as much as two points. In 2023–24, they won eight of their last nine matches to secure a play-off spot.
Offseason signing Arthur Kaliev is coming off a stellar season, tying the AHL lead in goals (26) and points (46). Lassi Thomsonback in Ottawa’s organization after a one-year detour to the Swedish Hockey League, leads all AHL defensemen with 11 goals. Stefan Halliday has become a fixture in Ottawa after making his NHL debut in November. And Belleville’s special teams have been sharp, including a power play that ranks fifth in the league overall (23.1 percent) and first on home ice (31.1 percent).
It’s a group that blocks shots, pays a physical price and wins tight games. And they make their head coach proud.
“Guys found a way,” Campbell added. “The effort is incredible. I’m really proud of the boys.”
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