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WILKES-BARRE TWP. — Sahir Gill was aware of the expectations when he was penciled in on the top line with Kevin Porter and Tom Kostopoulos for Saturday’s game against the Binghamton Senators.

And Gill produced like a top-six forward, registering his first two-goal game in the AHL to lead the Penguins to a 4-2 win.

Casey DeSmith stopped 30 of 32 shots and the penalty kill was a perfect 6 for 6 as the Penguins (35-11-3-0) earned their 20th win at home.

“It changes your mindset a little bit,” Gill said of being moved up to the top line. “You get a chance on the top two lines, you try to make a few more plays than you’re used to. You’re out there with skilled players so there’s plays to be had.”

The Penguins struck quickly in the first period with David Warsofsky connecting on a blast from the point and Gill getting his first on a turnaround shot at the corner. Both goals came within the first five minutes and Binghamton goaltender Matt O’Connor, who stopped three of the five shots he faced, was pulled for Chris Driedger.

Gill got the Penguins on the board quickly in the second period when he poked in a loose puck, and Dominik Simon ripped a wrister from the slot just 34 seconds later. The pair of goals came within the first two minutes of the period and gave the Penguins a 4-0 lead.

Gill’s goal was his fourth of the season, and three of those have come against Binghamton. Gill said he’s had good linemates whenever the Penguins play Binghamton, and that has resulted in his success.

“It’s a pretty easy game plan with (Kostopoulos) and (Porter). They’re smart players,” Gill said. “Just hang around the net and good things will happen. I was able to cash a couple in tonight.”

After building a 4-0 lead, the Penguins got sloppy, taking a couple penalties and allowing Binghamton back in it with two goals to cut the lead to 4-2.

“We came out hard at the start of the second period, but I didn’t like the rest of the period,” head coach Clark Donatelli said. “We got a little loose there and they kept coming.”

Penalties continued to haunt the Penguins in the third period as Patrick McGrath went off for elbowing followed by a Danny Kristo tripping call, but the penalty kill was up to the task, preventing the Senators from mounting a comeback.

Gill narrowly missed a hat trick after Binghamton pulled Driedger for the extra attacker. Gill skated in toward the empty net and had the puck swept off his stick just as he shot.

Still, Donatelli was happy with how Gill responded to playing on the top line.

“He got a different role,” Donatelli said. “He’s an offensive player and when you put him with top six players he can rise to that occasion.”

NOTES

• D Stuart Percy, F Tom Sestito (veteran scratch), D Lukas Bengtsson, D Barry Goers and C Thomas Di Pauli were scratched for the Penguins.

• The Penguins are now 16-1-1 in the second game of back-to-back contests.

Penguins left wing Kevin Porter works the puck in front of the Binghamton goal as Guillaume Lepine defends.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_pens_sen1_faa.jpg.optimal.jpgPenguins left wing Kevin Porter works the puck in front of the Binghamton goal as Guillaume Lepine defends. Fred Adams | For Times Leader

Penguins celebrate their second goal of the game scored by Sahir Gill in the first period of play on Saturday against the Binghamton Senators.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_pens_sen2_faa.jpg.optimal.jpgPenguins celebrate their second goal of the game scored by Sahir Gill in the first period of play on Saturday against the Binghamton Senators. Fred Adams | For Times Leader

Binghamton defenseman Andreas Englund battles with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins’ Teddy Blueger.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_pens_sen3_faa.jpg.optimal.jpgBinghamton defenseman Andreas Englund battles with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins’ Teddy Blueger. Fred Adams | For Times Leader

Binghamton Senators’ Phil Varone and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins’ Kevin Porter faceoff as Linesman Scott Pomento drops the puck during the first period of play of Saturday night’s game at the Mohegan Sun Arena.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_pens_sen4_faa.jpg.optimal.jpgBinghamton Senators’ Phil Varone and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins’ Kevin Porter faceoff as Linesman Scott Pomento drops the puck during the first period of play of Saturday night’s game at the Mohegan Sun Arena. Fred Adams | For Times Leader

Binghamton Senators’ Michael Kostka clears the puck away from goalie Chris Driedger as Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins’ Oskar Sundqvist pursues the play.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_pens_sen5_faa.jpg.optimal.jpgBinghamton Senators’ Michael Kostka clears the puck away from goalie Chris Driedger as Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins’ Oskar Sundqvist pursues the play. Fred Adams | For Times Leader
WBS winger scores two goals in 4-2 win

By Tom Venesky

[email protected]

Penguins 4, Binghamton 2

Binghamton`0`2`0`—`2

Penguins`2`2`0`—`4

First Period

Scoring – 1. WBS, David Warsofsky 11 (Burton, Haggerty) 2:26. 2. WBS, Sahir Gill 3 (Kostopoulos, Porter) 4:28. Penalties – WBS, Pouliot (delay of game) 8:45; WBS, Porter (holding the stick) 13:34; BNG, Perron (slashing) 17:45.

Second Period

Scoring – 3. WBS, Sahir Gill 4 (Pouliot, Kostopoulos) 1:22. 4. WBS, Dominik Simon 7 (Dea, Blueger) 1:56. 5. BNG, Casey Bailey 13 (Kostka, Harpur) 7:33. 6. BNG, Kyle Flanagan 7 unassisted 16:02. Penalties – WBS, Blueger (boarding) 5:29; BNG, Kostka (slashing) 8:35; WBS, Sundqvist (tripping) 13:19.

Third Period

Scoring – Penalties – WBS, McGrath (elbowing) 7:26; WBS, Kristo (hooking) 12:04.

Shots on goal

Binghamton – 10-13-9-32

Penguins – 9-14-6-29

Power-play Opportunities

Binghamton – 0 of 6

Penguins – 0 of 2

Goaltenders

Binghamton – Matt O’Connor (3 saves – 5 shots); Chris Driedger – 6:45 of the first period, 9-10-2 (22-24)

Penguins – Casey DeSmith 14-3-2 (30-32)

Starters

Binghamton – G Matt O’Connor, D Andreas Englund, D Ben Harpur, LW Nick Paul, C Max McCormick, RW Casey Bailey

Penguins – G Casey DeSmith, D Tim Erixon, D David Warsofsky, LW Garrett Wilson, C Oskar Sundqvist, RW Danny Kristo

Three Stars

1. WBS, Sahir Gill (two goals) 2. WBS, David Warsofsky (goal) 3. WBS, Dominik Simon (goal)

Referees – Stephen Thomson, Alex Garon. Linesmen – Scott Pomento, Francois Dussureault.

Attendance – 8,003

Reach Tom Venesky at 570-991-6395 or on Twitter @TomVenesky

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Video Caption: Wilkes-Barre’s Sahir Gill talks about his two-goal night vs. the Senators.

Video Credit: Tom Venesky | Times Leader

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