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Anton Zlobin will never know if he could&#8217;ve carried his success from the 2013-14 playoffs into the following season.There was no next season.A shoulder injury just six games into the 2014-15 season brought an abrupt end to Zlobin&#8217;s freshman year. What was supposed to be a career-defining season for Zlobin was taken away, and the second-year pro from Russia could do nothing but watch his teammates move on.&#8220;It was pretty frustrating because I was so close to possibly making my NHL debut that season, and then I get hurt after six games,&#8221; Zlobin said. &#8220;Everybody has a tough year and the guys told me to stay positive.&#8221;And patient.Zlobin hung around the team all season as he recovered from shoulder surgery. Even with his career on pause, his presence around the room was always upbeat.Positive.And as the 2014-15 season concluded and transitioned into summer, then training camp in Pittsburgh in September, Zlobin began to feel optimistic.He was healthy. Ready to play.And Zlobin was anxious to finally build off a 2013-14 rookie campaign that saw him score 19 points in 46 regular season games and add six goals and 10 points in 15 playoff games.But Zlobin had to deal with more setbacks, more adversity, almost right from the start.Not surprisingly, Pittsburgh sent Zlobin to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton&#8217;s training camp, and his bid to return to the Penguins hit a bump when he was eventually sent to Wheeling before the start of the season.Never mind his previous success, Zlobin was now starting over.&#8220;I kind of understood why they sent me down. I didn&#8217;t play for a year and I had to get my game shape and confidence back,&#8221; he said.Did it work?&#8220;Yes,&#8221; Zlobin said.But not right away.Zlobin suffered a concussion just two games into Wheeling&#8217;s season, and then was sidelined with a hand injury just two weeks after his return. From the start of the season to Dec. 27, Zlobin was limited to just 13 games and failed to score a goal.&#8220;The start of the year was tough,&#8221; he said.Zlobin&#8217;s fortunes changed when his health and confidence returned before the end of the year. From Dec. 31 to Jan. 16 Zlobin went on a seven-game tear, scoring seven goals and 11 points for the Nailers.&#8220;I finally got my confidence back and I tried to produce the same way I did two years ago,&#8221; Zlobin said.He put himself back on the Penguins&#8217; radar and on Feb. 5 Zlobin was called up from Wheeling.Walking back into the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton locker room for the first time in more than a year as a healthy player ready to contribute was something Zlobin will never forget.&#8220;It felt great to come back in the room with the boys. Everybody was happy to see me,&#8221; he said. &#8220;There was a lot of excitement.&#8221;Zlobin was reunited with his linemates from years ago, Tom Kostopoulos and Carter Rowney, and he scored a goal and an assist in a 4-3 Penguins win that same night.Zlobin added his third point - an assist, in his second game last Saturday and the Penguins hope that he&#8217;s becoming the player he was in the 2013-14 postseason.&#8220;Let&#8217;s not forget two years ago he was a top six guy playing in the conference finals with Tom Kostopoulos,&#8221; head coach Clark Donatelli said. &#8220;He&#8217;s been there. He knows how to get it done.&#8221;Zlobin said his early success with the Penguins was partly due to his familiarity with the team and his linemates. It&#8217;s easy to play with Kostopoulos and Rowney, he said, adding his emphasis on not only producing points but playing a sound defensive game as well.Still, Zlobin is under a bit of pressure. He&#8217;s in the last season of his three-year entry level deal and wants to remain employed with the Pittsburgh organization.&#8220;I have two-and-a-half months before playoffs. I have to do something,&#8221; Zlobin said. &#8220;It&#8217;s not pressure. It&#8217;s a good opportunity for me to prove I deserve another contract.&#8221;And to prove that his run in the 2013-14 postseason was no fluke.&#8220;He has to make the most of this opportunity,&#8221; Donatelli said. &#8220;He&#8217;s a guy we&#8217;re expecting a lot from and we&#8217;re going to lean on him.&#8221;<style>
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<div class="neCaption">After missing most of last season due to an injury, Anton Zlobin is hoping to make an impression with the Penguins for the rest of the season. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_Zlobin1.jpg</photo0><caption0>After missing most of last season due to an injury, Anton Zlobin is hoping to make an impression with the Penguins for the rest of the season. </caption0><photoCredit0>Submitted photo </photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta>By Tom Veneskytvenesky@www.timesleader.com</bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta>Reach Tom Venesky at 570-991-6395 or on Twitter @TLTomVenesky</shirttailMeta></div>

Anton Zlobin making up for lost time with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins