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Golf tournament benefits St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

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Alleged shooter identified; investigators still searching for motive of shooting

<p>Steve Oleksy has played at the Mohegan Sun Arena many times over the last several seasons, but when he takes to the ice on Saturday there will be a drastic change.</p><p>It will mark the first time Oleksy plays a regular-season game at the arena donning a home jersey instead of that of rival Hershey Bears.</p><p>But that doesn&#8217;t mean Oleksy won&#8217;t find himself in the middle of another Wilkes-Barre/Scranton rivalry. If anything, the Penguins&#8217; home opener against Lehigh Valley is the start of another in-state rivalry that could equal the Hershey matchups.</p><p>&#8220;There&#8217;s always the sense of pride in games like this,&#8221; Oleksy said. &#8220;I definitely think there&#8217;s going to be a rivalry feel to it, especially with us in our home opener trying to set the tone for the season.</p><p>&#8220;The rivalry feel will be in full effect.&#8221;</p><p>Team captain Tom Kostopoulos agrees that the rivalry will surface quickly, and it will be similar to the heated battles against Hershey.</p><p>&#8220;All three teams are so close and the fans go to each other&#8217;s arenas so you have that presence,&#8221; Kostopoulos said. &#8220;We play each other so many times that, if not already, it&#8217;s going to be a rivalry.&#8221;</p><p>Last season, the Penguins faced the Phantoms 12 times winning seven of those contests. Saturday&#8217;s home opener marks the first of another dozen regular-season meetings between the Atlantic Division foes.</p><p>Rivalry or not, the Penguins are anxious to play their first game of the season in front of the home fans after playing their first two games on the road against opponents in their home openers.</p><p>&#8220;We got a little taste of it on the road, so it will be nice to get ours,&#8221; Oleksy said. &#8220;Teams are always amped up for these games.&#8221;</p><p>For new head coach Mike Sullivan, he already has an idea what kind of energy and excitement will be generated by the home fans on Saturday. Sullivan has attended several community events recently and came away impressed with the passion and support the community shows the Penguins.</p><p>&#8220;There&#8217;s a positive energy and I can just sense that people really rally around this team,&#8221; Sullivan said. &#8220;When you&#8217;re a part of a team that gets that type of community support, it&#8217;s a lot of fun to be a part of it. It&#8217;s something we all appreciate.&#8221;</p><p>NOTEBOOK</p><p>- The Penguins home opener starts at 4:05 p.m., a change from the customary 7:05 p.m. puck drop. Sullivan said the early start means the team probably won&#8217;t have a morning skate and pre-game meetings will be moved up. Kostopoulos said the early start isn&#8217;t a drastic change to the players. &#8220;It will be a little different not skating in the morning, but hockey&#8217;s hockey. We&#8217;ll be ready, be excited and hopefully get to play in front of a sold out building.&#8221;</p><p>- The 4:05 p.m. special start time was made to avoid a conflict with the Penn State - Ohio State college football game that kicks off at 8 p.m.</p><p>- Tom Kuhnhackl returned from Pittsburgh and skated in practice on Friday wearing the red no-contact jersey. Sullivan said Kuhnhackl is still rehabbing from an injury and the next step in the process is contact drills.</p><p>- Friday wrapped up a busy week of five straight practices for the Penguins, and they didn&#8217;t take it easy. Sullivan routinely put his players through high-tempo practices, an aspect he said is important if the team wants to play a fast-paced, attacking style.</p><p>&#8220;We&#8217;re going to train to play fast,&#8221; he said. &#8220;It&#8217;s a constant work in progress, and my goal every day is to make our team better. I think we accomplished that this week.&#8221;</p><p>- Matt Murray will get the start in net for the home opener.</p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Tom Venesky</p><p>tvenesky@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Up next&#8230;</strong></p><p>Lehigh Valley Phantoms (0-1-0-0, 0 points, 6th place in the Atlantic Division) at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (1-1-0-0, 2 points, 4th place in the Atlantic Division)</p><p>Saturday, 4:05 p.m. at the Mohegan Sun Arena</p><p>Listen live on 103.1FM-WILK</p><p>Buy tickets at 570-208-PENS</p><p><strong>Players to watch:</strong></p><p>Lehigh Valley - Former Penguin Chris Conner is a proven AHL sniper, and he&#8217;s already collected a goal and an assist in the Phantoms&#8217; first game this season.</p><p>Penguins - Conor Sheary registered seven points in seven games against the Phantoms last season.</p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Tom Venesky at 570-991-6395 or on Twitter @TLTomVenesky</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins anxious for Saturday’s home opener at the Mohegan Sun Arena