Weekly Recap: Sens split wild weekend with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at CAA Arena

The Belleville Senators continue to face the ever-changing challenges of the American Hockey League season head-on. 

Even with seven regular players called up to the NHL parent club in Ottawa and another bunch injured, the Sens pushed their way to a split of games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (the AHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins) at CAA Arena this past weekend. Belleville followed up a lopsided loss on Friday night with a thrilling last-second victory on Saturday to open the home portion of the 2025 schedule and a run of eight consecutive games outside of the North Division. 

Friday, January 10, 2025: Belleville Senators – 1 vs Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins – 6

It was a case of deja vu for the Belleville Senators, who once again outshot their opponent heavily but couldn’t come out with a victory. Belleville dropped a 6-1 decision to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins) at CAA Arena on Friday night. Keean Washkurak scored Belleville’s only goal, assisted by Jan Jenik and Hayden Hodgson.

GAME RECAP | BOX SCORE

Saturday, January 12, 2025: Belleville Senators – 4 vs Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins – 3

The Belleville Senators got some payback over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Sunday, picking up a 4-3 win in a thrilling back-and-forth affair at CAA Arena. The victory split the weekend set with the Penguins after Belleville fell on home ice on Friday. The Senators were paced by Wyatt Bongiovanni’s second hat trick in a little over a week and a 25-save performance from goaltender Michael Simpson to earn his first AHL win in his first start.

GAME RECAP | BOX SCORE

Highlight of the Week:

Wyatt Bongiovanni has stepped up offensively for the Senators scoring two hat tricks in the last three games. His third goal on Saturday night against the Penguins, the game-winner with 2.2 seconds left in regulation time, is our latest Highlight of the Week.

Transactions:

Jan.7/25 – #21 Max Guenette (D) – Recalled from loan by Ottawa (NHL)
Jan.8/25 – #24 Jan Jenik (F) – Returned on loan from Ottawa (NHL)
Jan.9/25 – #33 Djibril Toure (D) – Returned on loan from Orlando
Jan.9/25 – #45 Mark Sinclair (G) – Released from PTO
Jan.10/25 – #17 Zack MacEwen (F) – Recalled from loan by Ottawa (NHL)
Jan.10/25 – #25 Matthew Highmore (C) – Recalled from loan by Ottawa (NHL)
Jan.10/25 – #18 Jake Chiasson (F) – Returned on loan from Orlando (ECHL)
Jan.12/25 – #14 Spencer Kersten (RW) – Signed to PTO
Jan.12/25 – #1 Alexis Gravel (G) – Signed to PTO

Click here for a full list of Belleville Sens transactions.

Statistical Leaders

Points: 24 – #22 Garrett Pilon (3 G + 21 A)
Goals: 13 – #9 Angus Crookshank (F) (T-9th in AHL Goals)
Assists: 21 – #22 Garrett Pilon (F) (T-3rd in AHL Assists)
Power Play Goals: 7 – #9 Angus Crookshank (F) (T-2nd in AHL PPG)
Plus/Minus: +16 – #21 Max Guenette (D) (T-5th in AHL +/-)
Penalty Minutes: 48 – #42 Hayden Hodgson (F)
Goals Against Average: 2.43 – #35 Leevi Merilainen (G) (10th in AHL GAA)
Save Percentage: .901 – #35 Leevi Merilainen (G)

This Week:

Belleville is back on the road this week as they visit the Keystone State, playing a trio of games in Pennsylvania. They’ll start in Allentown, against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (AHL affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers), before moving on to battle the two-time defending Calder Cup Champion Hershey Bears (AHL affiliate of the Washington Capitals), and finish the trip with another contest against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins).

• Wednesday, January 15, 2025 – Belleville Senators @ Lehigh Valley Phantoms – 7:05 p.m. (PPL Center)
• Friday, January 17, 2025 – Belleville Senators @ Hershey Bears – 7:00 p.m. (Giant Center)
• Saturday, January 17, 2025 – Belleville Senators @ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins – 6:05 p.m. (Mohegan Arena)

All three games can be heard on the Belleville Sens Entertainment Network or seen on AHL TV on FloHockey.

The Sens return to CAA Arena the weekend of January 24 for a pair of games against Hershey.

Ticket Info:

Tickets for all 2024-25 Belleville Sens home games are now on sale via Ticketmaster, by emailing tickets@bellevillesens.com, or at the Belleville Sens Box Office at CAA Arena during select hours.

Fans looking for details on other ticketing options can click the following links for more on  becoming a season seat member, purchasing a flex pack membership, or putting down a deposit for a group experience. More information on those ticket options, plus details on premium seating and Business Elite packages is available by visiting the Belleville Sens website or emailing tickets@bellevillesens.com.

The full Belleville Sens 2024-25 regular season schedule is available by clicking here. 

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