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Twice, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton led by three goals. Twice, Binghamton rallied.

Once again, it was Teddy Blueger to the rescue.

The team’s leading scorer came through in overtime on Saturday night, scoring in the extra frame to send the Penguins into the AHL All-Star break on a three-game winning streak with a 5-4 victory over the Devils.

With plenty of room to operate in the 3-on-3 format, Blueger was the trailer on an odd-man rush in the first minute of overtime. Adam Johnson fed him the puck and neither Binghamton defender stepped up to challenge him, giving Blueger all the time he needed to size up veteran NHL netminder Cory Schneider and beat him stick-side for the winner.

It was Blueger’s 21st goal of the season to match his career-high as a pro and move him within two of the AHL lead. Only three others in the league have found the back of the net more often in 2018-19.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (22-18-4-1, 49 points) was hoping that overtime wouldn’t be necessary after jumping out to a big lead for the second straight contest. The Penguins led 3-0 early in the second period and 4-1 past the game’s midway point, only to see the host Devils score the final three goals of regulation to tie it up.

Still, there was plenty to like on the offensive end Saturday night as five different Penguins beat Schneider, who is on a conditioning loan from the New Jersey Devils as he fights to return to his former NHL all-star form.

For the second time in as many games since joining the team, Joseph Blandisi opened the scoring. This time it was on a strong individual effort for the former Devil, who broke up a pass at his own blue line, skated the length of the ice and scored from the right circle just 46 seconds into the contest. Blandisi had also scored on his second shift in a Penguins uniform in Wednesday’s win over Bridgeport.

The Penguins’ lone all-star selection, defenseman Ethan Prow, made it 2-0 late in the first on the power play, scoring his 13th of the season.

Ryan Haggerty extended the lead to 3-0 early in the second. And when Ryan Schmelzer got Binghamton on the board just three minutes later, Johnson scored one of his own to make it 4-1 with 7:45 left in the frame.

The Devils wouldn’t go away, however, as John Quenneville and Blake Pietila both scored to cut the lead to 4-3 in the second before Pietila tied it up early in the third.

Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry shut it down the rest of the way, finishing with 25 saves on 29 shots in the win.

Jean-Sebastien Dea and Chris Summers had two assists apiece, with Johnson leading the way with three points (goal, two assists), including the setup on the game-winner.

Blueger’s hot play didn’t earn him a spot in the 2019 All-Star Classic, but Prow will take part in the two-day event, which begins Sunday with a skills competition.

Prow will represent the Atlantic Division squad in Monday’s event, which begins at 7 p.m. in Springfield, Mass.

The Penguins will return to the ice next Friday and Saturday when they host Cleveland and Bridgeport, respectively.

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Times Leader