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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are aware of all the scenarios they face as the season winds down and the opportunity to claim a playoff spot shrinks.</p><p>They know that Providence is five points ahead for the final playoff spot in the Atlantic Division, that Lehigh Valley is tied with them in fifth place and they have games in hand over both opponents.</p><p>&#8220;Everybody&#8217;s aware. If you&#8217;re not paying attention to that stuff maybe you shouldn&#8217;t be here,&#8221; Penguins veteran defenseman Chris Summers said after Tuesday&#8217;s practice. &#8220;It&#8217;s crunch time.&#8221;</p><p>And that&#8217;s why Wednesday&#8217;s game against Lehigh Valley is especially crucial, perhaps even bigger than the rivalry that has developed between the two teams.</p><p>For the Phantoms and Penguins, each team&#8217;s season is at stake when they hit the ice at the Mohegan Sun Arena.</p><p>This season, the Penguins are 4-2 against the Phantoms, with six more contests coming up. While catching Providence for a playoff spot is the goal, the Penguins know they need to put Lehigh Valley at the back of the pack in order to climb up the standings.</p><p>The Penguins have something to build on, winning the last two games against the Phantoms, including a 7-3 trouncing on Dec. 29.</p><p>&#8220;There&#8217;s been a tone set all year,&#8221; said winger Joseph Cramarossa. &#8220;It goes both ways. It&#8217;s still pretty fresh that it&#8217;s been a battle, and we have to keep that up.&#8221;</p><p>Aside from the importance of beating Lehigh Valley, the Penguins place more emphasis on simply earning every point they can. Last weekend, the Penguins gained three out of four points in two games on the road.</p><p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll take it,&#8221; said head coach Clark Donatelli. &#8220;Those were tough games.&#8221;</p><p>Perhaps not as tough as Wednesday&#8217;s contest against the Phantoms, however.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s always a physical game with them,&#8221; Cramarossa said. &#8220;If we come out physical and have a good start, I think we&#8217;ll be fine.&#8221;</p><p><strong></strong><strong>Notes</strong></p><p>- Donatelli said Tristan Jarry will start in net on Wednesday.</p><p>- Ethan Prow is third among AHL defenseman in goals (16) and tied for fourth in points (41).</p><p>- Cramarossa is one of only two players in the AHL to be three-for-three or better in shootout attempts this season (Sam Gagner, 3/3).</p><p>- Jimmy Hayes&#8217; tying tally on Saturday at Hartford was the 100th goal of his professional career.</p><p>- Ryan Scarfo had a career-best three-game point streak snapped on Friday at Providence.</p><p>- The Penguins now have five shootout wins this season. Only the Hershey Bears have more (7).</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Wednesday&#8217;s matchup against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms presents the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins with a golden opportunity to build some seperation in the standings. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/web1_pens_lvp5_faa.jpg</photo0><caption0>Wednesday&#8217;s matchup against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms presents the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins with a golden opportunity to build some seperation in the standings. </caption0><photoCredit0>Fred Adams file photo | For Times Leader </photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>WBS hopes to mount playoff push against Phantoms</subheadMeta></div><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></strong><strong>UP NEXT</strong></p><p style="text-align: center;">Lehigh Valley (62 points) at Penguins (62 points)</p><p style="text-align: center;">Wednesday, 7:05 p.m. at the Mohegan Sun Arena</p><p>Listen live on 103.1FM-WILK</p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Players to watch:</strong></p><p><strong>Lehigh Valley:</strong> T.J. Brennan has seven points in five games against the Penguins this season.</p><p><strong>Penguins:</strong> Since he joined the Penguins, Ben Sexton has four goals in three games against the Phantoms this season.</p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Tom Venesky at 570-991-6395 or on Twitter @TLTomVenesky</p></shirttailMeta></div>

WBS Penguins hope to mount playoff push against Phantoms