The Belleville Senators did their best to control their AHL playoff fates on Friday night with a commanding home win over the Manitoba Moose.
Led by a hat trick from top scorer Arthur Kaliyev and Leevi Merilainen’s eighth career AHL shutout, the Sens blew away their Canadian rival 5-0 at CAA Arena.
Belleville killed off an early penalty, but the Moose had the bulk of the chances in period one, met by Merilainen’s excellence.
The Sens’ goaltender’s great play was good enough to allow Belleville’s offence to come alive in the late goings of the first period.
Czech defenceman Tomas Hamara blasted a Jamieson Rees set up through three Manitoba defenders glove-side on Domenic DiVincentiis to kick off the scoring at 16:18.
That marker opened the floodgates in a huge way for the B-Sens.
Arthur Kaliyev scored a pair of rapid-fire goals, taking a drop pass from Riley Kidney at centre ice and flying past the Moose defence, tucking a backhander for his 34th of the season to make it 2-0.
Moments later, Kaliyev cut loose again, gaining some separation and lasering a rocket past DiViincentiis for goal #35 and a 3-0 Belleville cushion.
The goals all came within two-and-a-half minutes or so with less than four minutes to play in the opening frame.
Belleville continued to attack in the second, but came up empty on 10 shots in the period despite some solid chances.
The great momentum continued though into the third, with Phil Daoust striking before the ice was dry 26 seconds into the third.
The Barrie Ont. product’s 14th of the season finished off a three-way passing play with Cam Crotty and Sam Bolduc.
Kaliyev polished off the hat trick with his 36th of the year on a one-timer off the crossbar and in at 11:09 to inflict further pain on the Moose.
Merilainen meantime, continued to keep the situation calm in the crease and posted a 26-save shutout.
The game ended on a strange and concerning note, with paramedics at CAA Arena needing to tend to a medical emergency.
AHL rules state paramedics need to be visible at ice-level for the game to proceed, so both teams agreed to let the final 3:16 on the clock play out with neither team getting back into action.
The Sens snap a three-game losing skid with the victory and will carry that satisfaction into the Belleville Bulls tribute night and another key game Saturday at 7 p.m.
Manitoba Moose vs Belleville Senators
March 27, 2026
© Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photography
