While the Ottawa Senators had their 2025-26 season opener this past Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning with winning 5-4, it was time for their AHL affiliate to have their season opener.
The Belleville Senators headed to the Keystone State to begin their 2025-26 season against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Last season, Belleville missed the 2025 Calder Cup Playoffs. With a new finally season arriving for Belleville, it was a long and miserable first game.
Lehigh Valley defeated Belleville 5-2 at PPL Center in the season ope.
The game immediately started rough for Belleville when Devin Kaplan beat Mads Sogaard for two goals in a span of 2:40 to give Lehigh Valley a quick 2-0 lead less than nine minutes into the game.