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<p>When it became clear that Daniel Sprong was slated to open the season with the Pittsburgh Penguins, there were questions as to how Wilkes-Barre/Scranton would replace the 32 goals he scored last season.</p><p>So far, rookie Sam Miletic has helped to provide an answer.</p><p>The 21-year-old winger has produced at a point-per-game pace in his first six games. He has an even split with three goals and three assists and on Oct. 20 Miletic became the first Penguin with a multi-goal effort this season, scoring twice against Lehigh Valley.</p><p>The offensive production isn&#8217;t really a surprise when considering Miletic&#8217;s track record from juniors. Last season he registered 92 points (36 goals, 56 assists) in 63 games in the Ontario Hockey League. The season before Miletic posted 37 goals and 55 points in 65 games.</p><p>Head coach Clark Donatelli isn&#8217;t surprised that Miletic has been able to transfer his scoring prowess to the pro ranks.</p><p>&#8220;He scores a lot of goals in practice and he has really good habits. That correlates in the game,&#8221; Donatelli said.</p><p>For his part, Miletic attributed his early success to his teammates and coaching staff. After beginning the season on the fourth line, injuries allowed Miletic to move up and skate with Sam Lafferty and Zach Aston-Reese. In the two games that the trio played together, they combined for four goals and four assists. Miletic accounted for three of those goals.</p><p>&#8220;We have some unbelievable pros on this team and I&#8217;m lucky to have some great teammates to lean on,&#8221; Miletic said.</p><p>Still, the Michigan native deserves some credit for his recent success.</p><p>During the Oct. 20 contest against Lehigh Valley, Miletic scored both of his goals while posting in front of the net. He deflected a Will O&#8217;Neill slapshot for his first tally, and later put home a rebound while hovering near the post.</p><p>&#8220;Any time you get a goal it doesn&#8217;t matter where they come from. The dirty areas are where the pucks squirt out and that&#8217;s where you might have a better opportunity,&#8221; Miletic said.</p><p>His willingness to go to the hard areas down low is an attribute that makes any coach happy. Donatelli said it&#8217;s also a reflection of Miletic&#8217;s superb hockey sense, knowing how to anticipate a play and be in the right spot.</p><p>But Miletic isn&#8217;t just about goals. He is tied for second on the team with a plus-4 and acknowledges that the defensive side of things, especially in the pros, is critical.</p><p>&#8220;Being solid defensively is one aspect that separates pros from junior or college players,&#8221; Miletic said. &#8220;Consistency is key as well. You have to be consistent with scoring and defensive zone play.&#8221;</p><p>And always be willing to learn.</p><p>Miletic knows that six games is a small sample size and he can still improve. It&#8217;s a challenge he eagerly embraces, just like scoring goals.</p><p>&#8220;There&#8217;s a lot that I have to do and being a pro is something you do daily,&#8221; Miletic said. &#8220;I&#8217;ve been buying into the system here and just soaking up everything from the coaches and my teammates.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Rookie Sam Miletic was a goal-scorer in juniors and he has kept up the pace during his first six games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/web1_Miletic.jpg</photo0><caption0>Rookie Sam Miletic was a goal-scorer in juniors and he has kept up the pace during his first six games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. </caption0><photoCredit0>Fred Adams|for Times Leader </photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Tom Venesky</p><p>tvenesky@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Tom Venesky at 570-991-6395 or on Twitter @TLTomVenesky</p></shirttailMeta></div>

WBS Penguins’ Sam Miletic making quick adjustment to pros