Toronto Marlies vs Bellville Senators December 26 2024

The Toronto Marlies hosted the Belleville Senators for their annual Boxing Day Classic at Scotiabank Arena on December 26, 2024. The game resulted in a 3-0 victory for the Marlies, showcasing strong defensive play and excellent goaltending.

Game Summary

Final Score: Toronto Marlies 3 – 0 Belleville Senators

First Period

• Goal: Alex Steeves (TOR) – Power Play
  • Time: 7:46
  • Assists: Nick Abruzzese (8), William Villeneuve (10)

Second Period

• Goal: Jacob Quillan (TOR)
  • Time: 9:56
  • Assists: Matt Benning (2), Mikko Kokkonen (5)

Third Period

• Goal: Fraser Minten (TOR) – Empty Net
  • Time: 19:08
  • Assists: None

Key Statistics

• Shots on Goal:
  • Toronto Marlies: 26
  • Belleville Senators: 31
• Goaltender Performance:
  • Dennis Hildeby (TOR): 31 saves, 1.000 save percentage
  • Mads Sogaard (BEL): 24 saves on 25 shots, .960 save percentage

Game Highlights

1. Goaltending Duel: The game was highlighted by an outstanding performance from Toronto’s Dennis Hildeby, who stopped all 31 shots he faced. His counterpart, Mads Sogaard, also had a strong showing for Belleville, allowing only one goal on 25 shots.
2. Special Teams: The Marlies capitalized on their power play opportunities, with Alex Steeves scoring the opening goal on the man advantage. Conversely, Belleville struggled on special teams, going 0 for 8 on their power play chances.
3. Defensive Struggle: The game was largely a defensive battle, with both teams limiting high-quality scoring chances. The Marlies managed to break through with timely goals in each period.
4. Empty Net Clincher: Fraser Minten sealed the victory for Toronto with an empty net goal in the third period, putting the game out of reach for Belleville.

Player Spotlights

• Zack MacEwen (BEL): Led all players with 7 shots on goal, showcasing his offensive efforts despite the team being shut out.
• Matthew Highmore (BEL) and Angus Crookshank (BEL): Each contributed 5 shots on goal, demonstrating Belleville’s offensive pressure.
• Alex Steeves (TOR): Scored the game-winning goal on the power play, continuing his strong offensive contributions this season.

Coaching Insights

Belleville Senators Head Coach Dave Bell commented on the team’s performance:

“I don’t think you deserve much when you get that many power plays and go 0-for. I liked our five-on-five game, but obviously there’s a massive concern with our man-advantage unit right now. We were missing traffic and guys in and around the net for those second or third chances.”

Looking Ahead

The Senators and Marlies are set to face off again on Saturday, December 28, at CAA Arena in Belleville. This quick rematch provides an opportunity for the Senators to bounce back and for the Marlies to aim for a repeat performance.

Season Impact

• The win improves the Toronto Marlies’ record to 16-5-2-3.
• The loss drops the Belleville Senators’ record to 13-8-0-4 for the season and 4-2-0-0 on Boxing Day.

This Boxing Day Classic showcased the intense rivalry between these two Ontario-based teams and set the stage for an exciting rematch in just a few days.

Photos: Luke Durda – In Play! magazine