Preview: Moose vs. Belleville – Jan. 15

Moose vs. Belleville – Bell MTS Place – 7 p.m. CT
Broadcast: TSN 1290,  moosehockey.com/listenlive, AHLTV
Tickets: moosehockey.com/tickets

The Moose and Senators clash for the second time in three nights at Bell MTS Place this evening. It's the teams' third matchup of the season after each team picked up a win in the other's home rink. The Senators skated away with a 5-3 win over the Moose on Monday.

It wasn't a game the home side was overly happy about. They came out of the first period trailing 3-2 after goals from Kristian Reichel and Skyler McKenzie, but relied heavily on goaltender Eric Comrie. That continued into the second frame as the Senators pushed their lead to a two-goal edge. Comrie continued to be brilliant in the third period, which gave the Moose the chance to get back into the contest. Ryan White scored late in the third to cut the lead in half, but the Moose were unable to complete the comeback. Comrie finished the night with 35 saves and no shortage of clips to add to his highlight reel.

"We won't win many games playing like the way we played tonight," forward Logan Shaw said after the loss. "I know we had it 2-2, but it shouldn't have been, personally, I don't think so. I just think we have a lot more to bring and if we want to make the playoffs we need to bring it."

The Moose did get a strong performance from the line of Brent Pedersen, Kristian Reichel and Ryan White. Moose head coach Pascal Vincent called the group one of his team's best on the night. They generated two goals in the contest with Reichel and White each tallying a goal and an assist. Pedersen also picked up a helper to record a new career high with six points (2G, 4A) on the season. Reichel is also on a career pace with eight points (4G, 4A) in 19 games, just two points off his rookie totals from last season. Meanwhile White's points were his first of the season after missing 25 games due to injury.

"They were generating chances, they were solid defensively, they were playing physical," Vincent commented after the game. "So as a coach when you see that you want to put those guys on the ice because on that day they're one of your best lines. So they deserved all the ice time they got today."

Skyler McKenzie's eighth goal of the season gives him points in back-to-back games as the second-year pro continues to roll. McKenzie has been one of Manitoba's most consistent offensive producers over the past 21 games, picking up seven goals and 15 points in that span. The Sherwood Park, Alta. product sits sixth on the Moose in scoring, but is just one point back of Kristian Vesalainen, Andrei Chibisov and JC Lipon for third on the team. He also ranks fourth on the team with eight goals.

As with Monday's game, the mission will be to slow down the Senator's offensive attack. The Moose got a full show on how Belleville can generate offence quickly, and not necessarily from its top players. Michael Carcone came into the game with five goals on the season, and racked up a hat trick in the opening 20 minutes. He finished the game with eight shots on goal. That said, players like Alex Formenton and Logan Brown did factor into the decision with three points (1G, 2A) and four assists respectively.

The Moose and Senators drop the puck at 7 p.m. tonight at Bell MTS Place. Tickets are available at moosehockey.com/tickets.

Coverage of tonight's contest on TSN 1290, moosehockey.com/listenlive and AHLTV gets going at 6:45 p.m.