By Tom Robinson For Times Leader
WILKES-BARRE TWP. – David Warsofsky’s slap shot was too much for Binghamton goalie Gilles Senn to handle Wednesday night – twice.
Warsofsky’s two power-play goals lifted the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins to their sixth win in seven games, a 2-1 victory over the Devils that gave them points in the American Hockey League standings eight straight games and 10 of their last 11.
The Penguins are 2-0-0-1 three games into a five-game homestand that wraps up with games Friday and Saturday against the Hershey Bears and Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
“We’re on a little of a roll right now,” Warsofsky, the team captain, said in the post-game, on-ice interview after being selected as the number-one star. “We just need to keep it simple, keep working hard. That’s the type of team we are. We’re going to do well by working hard, not on talent alone.”
The veteran defenseman now has nine goals, the most among players on the current Penguins roster.
Warsofsky beat Seen the first time with a quick release. The game-winner was a display of power, ripping a hard shot with help from a little bit of traffic between his spot at the right point and the net.
Those shots helped the Penguins go 2-for-5 on the power play while Binghamton was failing to convert on any of its five chances.
“We settled in, kept it simple and a couple bounces went our way,” Warsofsky said.
Both teams had a 5-on-3, power-play opportunity.
Warsofsky opened the scoring four seconds before the two-man advantage ended late in the first period.
Cole Cassels, who assisted both goals and was named third star, was below the goalline when he sent a pass back to Warsofsky just inside the top of the left faceoff circle. Warsofsky one-timed a shot, rifling it off the inside of the right post.
Binghamton tied the game in the second period when Brett Seney carried the puck down the right side and behind the net. As he came around the other side, Seney led Nick Merkley breaking down the left wing, setting him up to shoot into a wide-open net.
That was the only goal the Devils managed in 23 shots against second star Casey DeSmith.
The Penguins struck quickly on their last power-play chance.
They scored six seconds in when Cassels won the faceoff in the right circle and got the puck back to Warsofsky at the point.
Senn got a piece of the shot, but could not stop it.
The Penguins held on by making two more stops on a Binghamton power play that came in with a 23.8-percent conversion rate over its past 13 games.
Penguins 2, Binghamton 1
Binghamton`0`1`0`—`1
Penguins`1`0`1`—`2
First Period_1, Penguins, Warsofsky 8 (Cassels, Roy), 18:39 (PP). Penalties_Boqvist, Binghamton (holding), 7:55; Devane, Penguins (hooking), 11:31; Schnarr, Binghamton (tripping), 16:43; Street, Binghamton (slashing), 18:00.
Second Period_2, Binghamton, Merkley 9 (Seney), 11:48. Penalties_Czuczman, Penguins (high sticking), 3:09; Brown, Penguins (high sticking), 7:59; Joseph, Penguins (cross checking), 8:29.
Third Period_3, Penguins, Warsofsky 9 (Cassels), 10:50 (PP). Penalties_Cumiskey, Binghamton (interference), 1:59; Sharangovich, Binghamton (hooking), 10:44; Brown, Penguins (tripping), 11:20; DeSmith, Penguins (tripping), served by Johnson, 14:41.
Shots on Goal_Binghamton 7-10-6—23. Penguins 10-6-5—21.
Power-play opportunities_Binghamton 0 of 5; Penguins 2 of 5.
Goalies_Binghamton, Senn 10-7-2 (21 shots-19 saves). Penguins, DeSmith 16-11-2 (23 shots-22 saves)
A_2,829.
Referees_Jake Rekucki, Rob Hennessey. Linesmen_Tom DellaFranco, Ryan Knapp.