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With four preseason games in the span of five days, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan had plenty of opportunity to evaluate players in game situations.
After the preseason concluded with Sunday’s 4-3 loss to Lehigh Valley, one would think Sullivan would have a pretty clear idea of who will make the team and who won’t.
But after an inspiring effort to erase a 3-0 deficit in the third period against a Phantoms team that resembled its regular season roster, the decisions will be harder to make.
“If anything, this game is going to make our decisions more difficult,” Sullivan said. “(Lehigh Valley’s) lineup tonight was pretty close to a full AHL lineup. This was a great test for us to see where we stack up. I thought they met the challenge.”
Entering the third period down 3-0, the Penguins scored three times in the first 10 minutes. Sahir Gill – the only player to appear in all four preseason games, struck first with a nice second effort to punch in his own rebound to make it 3-1. Ty Loney followed minutes later with a shot through traffic, and Oskar Sundqvist made it 3-3 when he skated into the low slot and snuck a shot into the net.
The Phantoms came back and won it later in the period to give the Penguins their only loss in the preseason, but Sullivan certainly wasn’t discouraged.
“The one thing we established in the short time together is we’re starting to build the identity – a resilient, hard-working, next-effort team,” he said. “We can see it evolving out there.
“As a group, to a man, I was appreciative of how hard they worked, their commitment and effort.”
Gill was among those who Sullivan said stood out, not only in Sunday’s game but during the entire preseason. Gill, who is a center, concludes the preseason with two goals in four games as Sullivan wanted to see how he responded to a heavy workload.
Sullivan also mentioned Loney and John McCarron as players who impressed, particularly when they skated on a line with Gill.
“The center position is an important position and I wanted to get a glimpse of what we have there,” Sullivan said. “(Gill) is an intriguing guy. I was curious to see how he would handle the workload. I thought tonight was his strongest game.”
Gill said the grind of playing four games in five days didn’t affect him. His focus was on winning and showing Sullivan he can compete.
Now, he said, there’s nothing left to do but wait. With Wheeling’s training camp starting Monday, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton will make cuts soon.
“The games are over and there’s nothing I can really control now,” Gill said. “The coaches and management have decisions to make. For me, I’m happy with how camp went. I left it all out there and now just see what happens.”
NOTEBOOK
– Goaltender Tristan Jarry played the entire game with Brian Foster serving as the backup. Despite allowing four goals, Jarry turned in a solid effort against a Phantoms team loaded with proven offensive threats.
– While there may be just a spot or two open on the roster among the forwards, there could be two defense spots available as Sullivan previously said he may keep eight blueliners to start the season. Among those battling for a job is former first round pick Nick Petrecki, who played in three of the four preseason games.
“I came in here asking for an opportunity and I got that,” he said. “For all the camps that I’ve been through, this group was really in-tune to listening. (Sullivan) had our attention the first day here and we put it to use.”
– Shavertown’s Patrick McGrath had a strong showing. He fought Lehigh Valley’s Jay Rosehill, joined the rush and created a few offensive chances.