web1_twins01.jpg

Nanticoke area twin sisters Brianne and Brittany Dougherty make childhood care center prosper

web1_gavel.jpg

Man accused of killing another motorist while allegedly driving under influence of methamphetamine prepared to plead guilty

Depending on the time of year, Clark Seymour has different views on playing three games in three days.If a three-in-three falls at the beginning of the season or first thing right after Christmas break, well, such a grueling stretch may be a bit more taxing.But playing a three-in-three in the middle of the season? No big deal.&#8220;At this point, we&#8217;re into it,&#8221; Seymour said. &#8220;Our fitness level is there, so this is a great time for us to have a busy weekend.&#8221;Head coach Clark Donatelli has a different perception on playing three games in three days, no matter what part of the season they are scheduled.&#8220;We wouldn&#8217;t like to have them at all, but that&#8217;s what the schedule presents to us,&#8221; he said, adding his players are looking forward to getting back to playing games after a full week of practice.Not only will be the weekend be challenging from the standpoint of playing three games, but the opponents the Penguins will face won&#8217;t make matters any easier.They open the weekend with a pair of matchups in Portland against a Pirates team that is directly below the Penguins in second place. On Sunday, the Penguins wrap up the weekend with a game in Providence against the third-place Bruins.The Penguins have yet to face Portland this season, but they did win all four games against the Pirates last season. Against Providence, the Penguins have won both meetings this season, including a 3-0 shutout win at home on Nov. 27 and a 2-1 overtime victory on the road to open the season.For a team that has been firmly entrenched in first place all season, Donatelli knows opponents are motivated to knock off the Penguins.&#8220;We go into other team&#8217;s buildings, we&#8217;re getting their best. We expect that,&#8221; he said. &#8220;We need to be mentally prepared right off the bat.&#8221;That emphasis on preparation is something the Penguins adhere to for every game, regardless if its a three-game stretch on the road.&#8220;Overall a three-in-three isn&#8217;t that bad,&#8221; Seymour said. &#8220;Road trips like this create good relationships with your teammates, and it&#8217;s a good time for us to be a professional and just prepare for it.&#8221;NOTES- The Penguins recalled G Brian Foster from Wheeling on Thursday. Matt Murray and Tristan Jarry are healthy, and the move was made to allow Foster to work with goaltending coach Mike Buckley.- D Will O&#8217;Neill will likely run the first power play unit, with D Clark Seymour manning the point for the second unit.<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta>By Tom Veneskytvenesky@www.timesleader.com</bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta>Up next&#8230;Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (28-9-0-1, .750, 1st place in the Atlantic Division) at Portland Pirates (23-13-1-0, .635, 2nd place in the Atlantic Division)Friday, 7 p.m. at the Cross Insurance Arena in Portland, MEListen live on 103.1FM-WILKPlayers to watch:Portland - Former Penguin and AHL All-Star Rob Schremp leads the Pirates with 16 goals and 32 points.Penguins - Carter Rowney had two goals and three points in four games against the Pirates last season.</factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta>Reach Tom Venesky at 570-991-6395 or on Twitter @TLTomVenesky</shirttailMeta></div>

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins not rattled by busy schedule