Wilkes-Barre Watch: Gill jumps at his chance

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. — Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins forward Sahir Gill celebrated the new year by returning to the ice Dec. 31.

After going pointless in St. John’s on Dec. 3, Gill was a healthy scratch for the Penguins’ next 10 games. He could only watch as they won seven during that span and took control of the AHL’s Atlantic Division. But his number was finally called on New Year’s Eve against the Binghamton Senators, and the 24-year-old made the most of it by picking up his first goal.



“(Scoring your first goal) always helps with confidence and just kinda getting a feel for the game and things like that,” Gill said. “So it was good to see the puck go in the net.”

Gill was in the lineup again Tuesday against Hartford and assisted on a first-period goal, another sign that his season might be heading in a better direction. As of Saturday, Gill had seven points (one goal and six assists) through 17 games, showing he can produce on offense when given the opportunity.

Unfortunately, those opportunities have been hard to come by.



Since completing his career at Boston University, Gill has bounced between Wheeling and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton the past three seasons. He has dominated the ECHL ranks, posting 101 points in 117 games, but that success hasn’t translated to the AHL.

Listed at 5-foot-11, Gill is often at a disadvantage along the boards and in battling for loose pucks. He also suffered a lower-body injury last season that stalled his development for much of the second half. As a result, he has only appeared in 50 games.

“(Being placed in the lineup) is out of your control,” Gill said. “You can control how hard you work and come in every day with a good attitude. Hopefully, you get rewarded for that, but we got a lot of guys that are capable of playing every night.

“The competition’s tough, but that’s what makes us a good team.”

Gill has shown flashes of potential, most recently in Tuesday’s game. Skating on a line with Danny Kristo and Jean-Sebastien Dea, he helped create several scoring chances in transition and was disruptive in Hartford's offensive zone. He assisted on a goal by David Warsofsky in the first period, and nearly had his second goal in as many games, too, but was denied by the right post late in the second period.

“He’s the type of guy that can play on a top-six if need be,” Penguins coach Clark Donatelli said. “(He’s a) utility guy, can play wing or center. He’s been injected into the lineup in the last couple games and played well, so that’s good to see.”

Gill's recent play has been critical for the Penguins in a tight division race, and as they prepare for a seven-game road trip before the All-Star break later this month.

As for a personal goal, Gill said he will do whatever he can to help the team continue winning.

“It’s a pretty competitive conference,” he said, “and especially this division. You can’t afford to take nights off.”

MORE FROM WILKES-BARRE

• Jan. 3: vs. Hartford, 3-2 win
• Jan. 6: vs. Hershey, 5-1 win
• Jan. 7: vs. Binghamton, 5-4 win
• Jan. 8: at Hershey, 6-5 overtime win

Longtime enforcer Tom Sestito was the unlikely star of the week, recording two goals, an assist and a fight in Friday's win and adding another goal and an assist in Saturday’s win. He also eclipsed 1,000 AHL penalty minutes in his career.

Additionally, goaltender Tristan Jarry and breakout rookie Jake Guentzel, the league’s leading goal scorer through Saturday with 19, were named to the Atlantic Division roster for the 2017 All-Star Classic on Thursday. Donatelli will coach the Atlantic Division.  Jarry was recalled to Pittsburgh the following day, along with defenseman Chad Ruhwedel.

Next: The Penguins continue with three rounds of a seven-game road trip this week, including stops in Toronto, Rochester and Syracuse.

Goal of the week: Derrick Pouliot scored his first goal of the season and picked up two assists in the Penguins' win on Sunday.



BEYOND THE AHL

Penn State forward Nikita Pavlychev (seventh round, 2015) had an assist Saturday in the Nittany Lions' 4-2 win over rival Ohio State. The 19-year-old has nine points (3G-6A) in 17 games with the team this season.

TOP-PICK TRACKER

• Goaltender Filip Gustavsson (second round in 2016) and Sweden placed fourth in the IIHF World Junior Championship. He did not appear in any games during the week.

• Forward Kasper Bjorkqvist (second round in 2016) skated for Finland in two WJC games, recording an assist against Latvia on Tuesday. He has three points in 11 games this season with Providence College.

• Forward Daniel Sprong (second round in 2015) played his first two games for the Charlottetown Islanders of the QMJHL, recording an assist Friday against Cape Breton.

WHEELING REPORT

On Friday the Nailers routed the league-leading Toledo Walleye, 6-0. Nick Sorkin and Garrett Meurs both scored two goals, and Sean Maguire (fourth round in 2012) picked up his first professional career shutout in goal. On Sunday the Nailers fell 3-2 in overtime to Cincinnati.

Next: Wheeling takes the ice four times this week, including home-and-home series against Toledo and Kalamazoo.

Goal of the week: Sorkin gets the nod this week for the first of his two goals in Wheeling's 6-0 win over the Walleye on Friday night: