For the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins this weekend, opportunity has a name.

It’s Sahir Gill.

With Andrew Ebbett, Jayson Megna and Scott Wilson in the NHL, the Penguins are missing three of their top five scorers. While that makes a stretch of three rivalry games in three nights more challenging, it also creates opportunities for other players to step in and make a name for themselves.

Gill, who was called up from the ECHL’s Wheeling Nailers along with rookie center Matia Marcantuoni on Thursday, will get that chance.

An undrafted, 5-foot-11, 185-pound second-year pro out of Boston University, Gill had every reason to believe he’d play in the AHL this season. He led Wheeling in scoring with 54 points in 67 games last season and had 14 points in 14 games this year.

He just never thought it would be in Wilkes-Barre.

Wheeling has a dual affiliation with Pittsburgh and Montreal and Gill was more or less a Montreal guy. He went to training camp with the Canadiens and made his AHL debut with their affiliate in Hamilton during a one-game call-up from Wheeling last month.

Little did he know, the Penguins had their eyes on him too.

“We’ve been talking about it over the course of some time because he’s been playing well down there,” coach John Hynes said.

A lot of times, when a player is called up from the ECHL to fill a roster spot, he’s just a body. He is slotted onto the fourth line and only gets a few shifts.

That doesn’t appear to be the case with Gill. Given who the Penguins are missing, he will likely find himself in scoring situations, perhaps centering a line with skilled rookies Conor Sheary and Bryan Rust.

As far as AHL opportunities go, it’s a pretty good one.

“I think it’s exciting. That’s the opportunity you want to get,” Gill said. “I’m fortunate to be slotted into that role. I’m just looking forward to having a good game and helping the team win. I don’t want to do anything too out of the ordinary. Just play the style of game that got me here and fit in with the guys.”

Tough times ahead

The Penguins begin a particularly grueling stretch of schedule today. They’ll play three games in three days in three of the next four weekends for a total of 11 games in 24 days. It’s a month that will provide a true test of how far the team’s rookies have come.

There’s no doubt they have the ability, but how will they hold up when faced with this particular grind?

“It’s having them understand the importance of each game,” Hynes said. “They have to be in the moment and playing in that game 100 percent. Then over the course of it — we’ve been in several three in threes — there is management as far as letting a game go after it’s done. You can’t let the game sit with you when it’s three in three.”

Fun fact

Like most working folks and all school kids, the Penguins like Fridays. They’re 5-0-1 on Friday this season and 7-8-1 on the other six days of the week.

Hometown hero

Saturday night is a big night for Shavertown’s Patrick McGrath. The first 2,500 fans at a Wheeling home game against Utah will receive a bobble-fist doll featuring his likeness.

McGrath has a goal, an assist and 51 penalty minutes in 12 games this season, but his true value to the Nailers might lie in some other numbers.

McGrath is among ECHL leaders with seven fighting majors this season. He has 25 fights since turning pro at the start of last season, most in the league over that span. Meanwhile, Wheeling attendance is up more than 25 percent this season, from an average of 2,252 per game to 2,851 per game.

Contact the writer:

jbombulie@citizensvoice.com

Lehigh Valley Phantoms at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

When: 7:05 tonight

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena

Tickets: For tickets, visit the arena box office or ticketmaster.com or call 1-800-745-3000.

On the air: The game will be broadcast on 103.1 FM and 910, 930 and 980 AM with Mike O’Brien calling the action.

Promotion: The first 1,500 fans age 18 and older will receive a voucher for a free scratch off lottery ticket. Secret Santa pucks will be on sale for $10.

About the Penguins: The Penguins are 3-1-1 in their last five games. … The Penguins are 2-1 against Lehigh Valley this season. C Jean-Sebastien Dea and C Dominik Uher each have a goal and two assists in the season series. … With C Andrew Ebbett and RW Jayson Megna in Pittsburgh, the team’s top three active scorers — Dea, D Derrick Pouliot and RW Bryan Rust — are rookies.

About the Phantoms: Lehigh Valley snapped a three-game losing streak with a 4-3 victory over Norfolk last Saturday. … D Brandon Manning is on an eight-game scoring streak and has moved into the team lead with 16 points in 17 games this season. … RW Jason Akeson, who led the Phantoms with 24 goals and 64 points in 70 games last year, is back in the AHL after going scoreless in 12 games with the Flyers to start the season.