Belleville Senators' hockey is back, following a four-day, All-Star break. A depleted Belleville Senators' squad returns to action against their North Division rivals, the Binghamton Devils, beginning a three-game road trip, spanning three games in four night's.
Belleville's finale before the team's break would prove costly as a trio of Senators,Stuart Percy (hip impingement), Joseph LaBate (foot infection) and Adam Tambellini (undisclosed), are the newest entries on the injury report, joining Jim O’Brien, Boston Leier, Darren Archibald and Andrew Sturtz on sick-bay. Adding to the complexity, from a B-Sens' perspective, Ottawa would recall highly-skilled forward, Rudolfs Balcers this morning.
Belleville currently is carrying nine healthy, AHL-calibre defenders at their disposal, all vying for playing time will have to get creative with seven forwards unavailable to suit up this weekend.
For Jordan Murray, it poses an opportunity at forward. "I've played forward a little bit," noted Jordan Murray. "I played a game last year at forward. It's a little different, you don't have to worry as much at forward. I shouldn't let Manner (Troy Mann) hear that, but it's going to be an experience that's for sure," the Moncton native joked.
Murray has lived up to his billing as an offensive-minded blueliner, operating at nearly a point every other game with 15 points in 32 games, sitting tied with Christian Wolanin for the team lead in defensive goals scored with five apiece. The University of New Brunswick alumnus led all B-Sens defenders in points with 23 last season.
The high-energy defender has appeared in 32 of Belleville's 46 games, missing time due to a broken hand earlier this season.
When Murray is in the lineup this season, Belleville's record is significantly improved, (16-15-1) to without (4-8-1-1).
