Belleville Senators edge Rochester Americans 5-4 in overtime thriller

Belleville escaped an epic momentum swing to beat the Rochester Americans 5-4 in overtime, with Arthur Kaliyev finishing a Halliday feed alone in the bonus period for his 25th goal. The result punctuated a game of quick transition play, special-teams drama, and a late push from Rochester that nearly erased a three-goal deficit.

The Senators opened strongly, generating sustained pressure and quick passing that culminated just before the first intermission. Philippe Daoust and Jorian Donovan threaded a sequence that screened the Rochester net, allowing Cam Crotty to beat Devon Levi short side for the 1-0 lead. Belleville carried that jump into the second, when Scott Harrington’s transition work and a Jamieson Rees pass sprung Tyler Boucher for a five-hole finish, his fourth of the season, to make it 2-0.

Belleville extended the lead on a decisive five-on-three power play later in the second. Stephen Halliday’s setup to Arthur Kaliyev produced a one-timer and a loose puck that Wyatt Bongiovanni cleaned up for his 11th goal, sending the Senators up 3-0. Halliday finished the night with two assists and extended his point streak, a sign of consistent playmaking for Belleville.

Rochester answered with ferocity in the third, driven by their leading scorer Isak Rosen. A point shot from Anton Wahlberg set up Rosen’s first of the night, and 31 seconds later a Riley Fiddler-Schultz attempt caromed off Hunter Shepard and onto Jagger Joshua’s stick for a 3-2 score. Belleville pushed back when Jorian Donovan’s point wrister led to a Jan Jeník tip off the leg of Keean Washkurak, restoring a two-goal cushion at 4-2. The Americans, however, were not finished. Rosen added a tipped goal for his second and then completed the comeback late in the period on a one-timer set up by Zac Jones and Carson Meyers, forcing overtime.

In the extra frame, Stephen Halliday fed Kaliyev on a breakaway and the winger buried the winner to seal a 5-4 triumph. Hunter Shepard made 26 saves in net for Belleville, standing tall through Rochester’s third-period surge.

From a performance standpoint, the game showcased Belleville’s ability to manufacture offense both at even strength and on the man advantage, while Rochester demonstrated depth scoring and competitive grit. The back-and-forth also underscored goaltending margins and rebound control as decisive factors.

For the AHL marketplace, finishes like this matter on multiple levels: they energize local fan bases, boost evening attendance and social engagement, and highlight individual resume builders for NHL clubs monitoring development. Culturally, the tilt reinforced the AHL’s role as a community centerpiece where young talent hones clutch instincts and regional rivalries fuel entertainment value.

This win gives Belleville momentum as they regroup after a brief road trip and prepares both clubs for a crucial stretch where special teams and late-game poise will influence playoff positioning and player trajectories.