Play all audios:
WILKES-BARRE — Despite being out of the playoff picture, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins still feel in control when it comes to their chances of clinching a 17th consecutive postseason
spot. And such a feeling couldn’t be more evident than Friday’s game against the Providence Bruins. Entering the contest, the Penguins trail Providence by five points for the fourth and
final playoff spot in the Atlantic Division. They also face the Bruins three more times, including Friday’s contest, and have a game in hand. When it comes to destiny, the Penguins are still
in control. “It’s not a situation where we’re just counting on other people to lose,” Penguins assistant coach J.D. Forrest said. “We have enough games against those teams that are ahead of
us or within our reach. You feel like if we do what we need to do, we don’t have to rely on other teams losing.” But the Penguins do have to play better against Providence if they’re going
to gain any ground. In three games this season, the Penguins have yet to win one and they’ve been out-scored by the Bruins, 11-5. The last time the Penguins faced Providence was on Nov. 25,
2018, so perhaps Friday’s game can be viewed as a fresh start against the division rival. “Playing Providence will be a big test for us. When you see that team right ahead in the standings,
it gives you something extra in your game,” said forward Jarrett Burton, one of five Penguin players to score a goal against the Bruins this season. “We haven’t see them in a while so
there’s a lot of excitement in the room to get going.” But Forrest cautioned that, while excitement is good, the Penguins need to be careful not to “over-hype” the game. Yes, the contest is
essentially considered a four-point swing and, depending on how the Penguins fare on Saturday in Hartford, they can narrow the gap with Providence to one point. Friday’s game alone won’t
propel the Penguins into the playoffs, Forrest said, reminding his team to look at the big picture, too. You can’t make it the ‘end all, be all.’ You’re not going to get in the playoffs by
winning the next game,” Forrest said. “We get it’s a playoff race, but we’re not going to win that battle in one night. It’s going to be a process.” NOTES – Forrest didn’t rule out the
possibility of goaltender Tristan Jarry playing in back-to-back games this weekend. “He’s been able to handle back-to-backs before. It’s always an option.” – Defenseman Blake Siebenaler was
to the Wheeling Nailers on Thursday. Siebenaler appeared in one game with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, a 5-4 overtime win on Feb. 17 at Hartford in which he finished the contest with a plus-2
rating. The third-year pro was acquired by the Penguins organization from the Columbus Blue Jackets in a trade on Feb. 11 in exchange for a conditional seventh round draft pick. Burton __