Utica's Quick Strike Spree Downs Senators 5-1
Published on February 28, 2026 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Belleville Senators News Release
Belleville Senators right wing Hayden Hodgson (left) and defenceman Dennis Gilbert vs. the Utica Comets
(Belleville Senators, Credit: Jana Chytilova - Freestyle Photography)
BELLEVILLE, ON - The Belleville Senators returned to home ice Saturday night to finish off their home-and-home set versus the Comets, dropping a 5-1 finish.
The Comets opened the scoring early in the Friendly City. A long, screened shot from the point off the stick of Marc McLaughlin got through, off a pass from Nathan Legare, to put the Comets up 1-0 just over two minutes into the game.
The second period was a high-scoring affair, starting with the Senators tying it up. A pass from Hayden Hodgson found Carter Yakemchuk, who showed patience before picking a corner and scoring his eighth of the season to make it a 1-1 game. The Comets responded just over halfway through the period to regain the lead. Xavier Parent buried his eleventh, with help from Calen Addison and Matyas Melovsky, for a 2-1 game. Utica then struck for two quick goals. On the power play, Parent scored his second of the night from the high circle to extend the lead to 3-1. Nine seconds later, following a faceoff win, McLaughlin sent Jonathan Gruden in on a two-on-one, and he finished it to make it 4-1 for Utica. The Comets added another before the end of the period. A scramble in front, caused by Ryan Schmelzer, along with a pass from Topias Vilen, set up Parent for his hat-trick goal and a 5-1 contest.
In the third, Belleville outshot Utica 10- 4 and generated three power-play opportunities, but they were unable to cut into the deficit, resulting in a 5-1 final.
Belleville will again have another good break before starting up another home-and-home series against the Utica Comets. The first contest will come on Friday March 6th, back at Adirondack Bank Center with the puck coming down at 7:00 p.m.
Fast Facts:
#5 Wyatt Bongiovanni recorded two shots
#13 Xavier Bourgault had four shots on net
#15 Olle Lycksell put three shots on goal
#26 Carter Yakemchuk scored his eighth of the season
#42 Hayden Hodgson registered one assist
#48 Dennis Gilbert nabbed one assist and now has points in back-to-back games
The full 2025-26 Belleville Senators schedule can be found here.
Single-game tickets for the second half of the 2025-26 season are now on sale via Ticketmaster or at the Belleville Sens Box Office located inside the Quinte Sports & Wellness Centre. Details on season seat memberships, flex packs, premium seating, the Business Edge program, and more can be found by visiting the Belleville Sens Website.
Images from this story
 Belleville Senators forward Arthur Kaliyev (center) vs. the Utica Comets (Jana Chytilova - Freestyle Photography) |
 Belleville Senators defenceman Lassi Thomson (right) vs. the Utica Comets (Jana Chytilova - Freestyle Photography) |
 Belleville Senators right wing Hayden Hodgson (left) and defenceman Dennis Gilbert vs. the Utica Comets (Jana Chytilova - Freestyle Photography) |
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