Bourgault scores and assists as Thomson nets OT winner in Wilkes-Barre

Lassi Thomson finished off a textbook breakout sequence with a one-timer from the point to give the Belleville Senators a 3-2 overtime victory over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Jan. 21. The result opened Belleville’s seven-game road trip and highlighted a mix of veteran poise and young talent on the Senators roster.

Xavier Bourgault paced the offense with a goal and an assist, playing a direct role in two of Belleville’s three scores. Landen Hookey forced overtime with a timely tying goal in regulation, and goaltender Leevi Merilainen made 27 saves on 29 shots to preserve the road win. Wyatt Bongiovanni extended his point streak to five games, continuing a string of consistent production that has helped stabilize Belleville’s secondary scoring.

The overtime winner began as a breakout pass that freed Belleville from pressure in its own zone and created space at the offensive blue line. Thomson’s one-timer, hit with conviction from the point, beat the Penguins’ goaltender and capped a fast, transition-driven finish. That sequence illustrated Belleville’s transition game and the value of quick reads against a hungry Wilkes-Barre/Scranton group pushing to protect home ice.

Merilainen’s 27-save performance was a key stabilizer; he faced 29 shots and turned aside multiple grade-A chances, allowing Belleville’s forwards to chase the game knowing the net was in safe hands. Bourgault’s two-point night reinforced his role as a central playmaker and finisher on the man advantage for a Senators team balancing development with the demands of a long road swing.

For the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, the loss stings but also underlines areas to tighten up against AHL opponents that counter with speed and clean exits. Landen Hookey’s tying goal showcased Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s ability to find answers late, but lapses on the defensive blue line allowed Thomson the space to win the game in overtime.

Beyond a single result, this game carries development and business implications. Performances by Bourgault, Thomson, Bongiovanni, and Merilainen increase their visibility to NHL organizations monitoring the AHL for call-up candidates, while Belleville’s road victory builds franchise momentum that matters for ticket sales and local fan engagement as the team returns to the East Coast swing. Belleville now heads to Providence for the next stop on the trip, where continued scoring depth and reliable goaltending will be required to sustain the push and keep these prospects in the NHL conversation.