The Ottawa Senators' season will continue on Saturday night at 7 p.m. ET when they host the Montreal Canadiens when the 4 Nations Face-Off concludes tonight.
Meanwhile, in the AHL in Belleville, the roster has seen some improving players. From the rise of Stephen Halliday, to Garrett Pilon and Jeremy Davis.
However, as productive as those three players are, Belleville is seeing an incredible rise from two goal scorers who are catching Ottawa's eyes. Both players have become offensive threats and Ottawa could potentially use them at some point this season.
Both Cookshank and Bongiovanni are lighting the lamp up in Belleville
This season, both Angus Crookshank and Wyatt Bongiovanni have been important pieces on Belleville's roster. Without the two of them, Belleville could likely be a struggling AHL team.
Crookshank has 31 points this season and Giovanni has 25. But, both of them have been known for their goal scoeing. Both Crookshank and Giovanni each have 17 goals this season, which is tied for the most on Belleville's roster. For Bongiovanni to have 17 goals this season while missing 10 of Belleville's games is impressive.
Over the last 17 games he's played in, Crookshank has recorded at least one point in 12 of the games. Crookshank had a six-game point streak in January. Earlier this month, Belleville head coach David Bell called Crookshank the "hungriest player" that he's ever coached.
Bongiovanni had a strong start to January when he recorded two hat tricks in a three-game span. Over the last six games, Bongiovanni has recorded four points.
Ottawa has faced adversity with injury concerns this season. It remains unsure when Josh Norris and Shane Pinto will be ready to return. If both Norris and Pinto will continue to remain out for some time, Crookshank and Bongiovanni could be solid call ups to the NHL.
One area Ottawa has heavily struggled in recently is the powerplay. Crookshank's nine powerplay goals is the most on Belleville's roster, and Giovanni's seven are the second highest on Belleville. So, both players could give Ottawa's powerplay a spark with recent struggles.
Even if Ottawa doesn't call up neither Crookshank or Bongiovanni this season, the two can show more improvement and score more goals for Belleville. The Belleville goal scoring is relied on deeply from the two of them and it will continue to be this season.