Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (26-11-2-2) briefly took the lead in the third period before Belleville forced overtime for the fifth straight game. Lassi Thomson delivered the dagger for the B-Sens 94 seconds into OT.
Belleville took its first lead of the night as the teams skated four-on-four after passing minor penalties back and forth. Xavier Bourgault broke free for a breakaway and slid the puck through Joel Blomqvist’s five-hole at 17:24.
The Penguins even got Rafael Harvey-Pinard’s tenth goal of the year. Avery Hayes cut a pass to Harvey-Pinard in the slot, but the puck was chopped away. Harvey-Pinard promptly chased the loose puck, then turned and fired it into the opposite corner midway through the second period.
Atley Calvert took advantage of a misplayed puck by Senators goalie Leevi Meriläinen three minutes into the third to give Wilkes-Barre/Scranton a 2-1 lead.
After a pair of successful Penguins penalty kills, the Senators managed to break through with 4:30 left in regulation. Landen Hookey accepted a pass from behind the net and his one-knee one-timer served as a 2-2 equalizer.
In overtime, Bourgault jumped the ice for a two-on-one rush and slid a feed to Thomson for the game winner.
Blomqvist recorded 16 saves in a loss for the Penguins. Meriläinen saved 27 shots for Belleville.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s next game is Friday, Jan. 23, when the rivalry with the Hershey Bears is renewed. Game time for the sixth game of the season for the Penguins and Bears is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Giant Center.
The Penguins’ next home game is the following evening, Saturday, January 24, against the Charlotte Checkers. Puck drop between the Penguins and Checkers is scheduled for 6:05 PM at Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza.
Related
#Pens #knocked #Sens #Pro #Hockey #News