The Belleville Senators’ second game in as many nights against the Utica Comets ended on a winning note.
Wyatt Bongiovanni ended the game on a one-timer in overtime to give the Sens another electric victory in bonus hockey on home ice, 4-3 on Saturday night.
Both goaltenders, Belleville’s Michael Simpson and Utica’s Isaac Poulter were solid in the early goings, but it was Utica that got out in front.
Adam Beckman wound up and blasted a clean shot off the left wing that beat Simpson off the post with 2:39 remaining in the first.
Belleville managed to tie the game 8:16 into the second period thanks to their captain.
Garrett Pilon secured his fourth goal of the season, capitalizing on a cross-seam pass from Stephen Halliday on a two-on-one by raising a high wrister over the fallen Poulter, who was coming off a 37-save shutout the night before.
Ryan Schmelzer quickly put Utica back in front more than two minutes when he took a fortunate bounce of a puck and backhanded it over Simpson’s glove hand.
The Sens worked the puck off the near boards through Angus Crookshank, who helped allow Jeremy Davies to power a low shot through traffic that eluded Poulter.
Halliday added his second assist as the Sens AHL All-Star representative registered his fifth of the season.
The Comets jumped back ahead again early in the final regulation frame by one by wearing down Simpson on a powerplay with a few rapid-fire chances with one eventually sneaking through off Nolan Foote’s stick.
Belleville continued to show its resilience however and Pilon once again was at the forefront of another response.
He took advantage of a collision between Halliday and a Utica defender to weave his way to the front of the Comets cage and squeak a shot over the goal line out of a deke to lock the score up again.
Sam Gagner contributed the lone assist at 5:11 of the third.
Bongiovanni ended the night on a winning note with 1:44 left in overtime, blasting a saucer feed from Halliday into the twine to secure the extra point for the home side.
Halliday finished with three helpers on the night to lead all players in points on Saturday night.
Simpson made 29 saves as the Sens outshot Utica 35-32 to earn their third overtime win in the last four home games.
The Sens skate into the AHL All-Star break with an 18-15-1-4 record and 41 points, with their next game in Rochester at 7:05 p.m. on Friday.
