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Time is running out in the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins’ playoff push. Jimmy Hayes made sure their latest big opportunity wouldn’t go to waste.

The veteran winger entered Wednesday’s game at Lehigh Valley with 11 goals on the season and left it with 14, scoring a hat trick to key a critical 4-1 win over the Phantoms in Allentown.

With the win, the Penguins (29-23-6-3) vaulted past the Phantoms into fifth place in the Atlantic Division by one point. They still trail Providence by four points for the fourth and final playoff spot with exactly one month left in the regular season.

Hayes opened the scoring in the first period and closed it with an empty-netter in the final minute to seal the victory. The outburst backed up an impressive performance in net from Tristan Jarry, who stopped 38 of 39 shots en route to the win.

It took less than two minutes for Hayes to get Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on the board, getting assists from Joseph Cramarossa and Matt Abt.

The game held at 1-0 until the opening seconds of the third period when Ryan Haggerty scored his 16th on the season. Hayes picked up his second goal midway through the frame before the Phantoms finally got one past Jarry on a shot by Byron Froese.

Sam Miletic finished with two assists in the winning effort.

Wednesday also marked the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton debuts of a pair of forwards in Trevor Yates and Jake Lucchini, who both recorded a shot on goal. Lucchini centered a line with Hayes and Cramarossa while Yates played on the wing with Cam Brown and Linus Olund.

They took the spots of Joseph Blandisi (called up) and Patrick McGrath (injured) in the lineup.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton has another important showdown set for Saturday as the Penguins host Providence at 7:05 p.m.

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Times Leader