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Before he joined the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins as a rookie this season, Josh Archibald was a point-per-game producer at the college level.

Now, after a few struggles this season when he missed time with an injury and was a healthy scratch – followed by a demotion to Wheeling – Archibald feels his recent stint with the Nailers helped him re-discover that offensive touch.

Archibald, along with Jean-Sebastien Dea, was sent to Wheeling earlier this month and he returned last week. Archibald had six goals and 10 points through eight games, including a hat trick on Feb. 22.

“Back in college I put up a lot of points and that’s something I wanted to do here,” Archibald said. “Going down (to Wheeling) I got my confidence back making the offensive plays I struggled with here. After missing a few games here and being a healthy scratch, I got to go down there and get a lot of ice time and get my legs back under me.”

In 31 games with the Penguins this season, Archibald has only two goals and six points and didn’t register a goal in his last 23 games.

They are numbers that Archibald is ready to turn around.

“I’m really excited. It’s something I’ve been working at to hopefully step back into the lineup and make a difference,” he said.

That’s what head coach John Hynes is hoping to see. He said Archibald has the skill to be an offensive threat without neglecting the defensive side of things.

“For (Archibald) to develop and play he has to be good on both sides of the puck,” Hynes said. “Part of becoming a pro is having a well-rounded game with offensive elements to it.”

NOTEBOOK

– Bobby Farnham skated in Thursday’s practice with the red ‘no contact’ jersey and has yet to be cleared for contact. His status for this weekend is still unknown.

– Hynes and the recently-traded Zach Sill have a long history together as they both broke into the organization together in 2009. Hynes said it was disappointing to see Sill leave, but the opportunity in Toronto is a good one.

“Zach came up through Wilkes-Barre and really earned his way. It’s nice to have a guy like that in the organization,” Hynes said. “But at the same time he’s going to get a real quality opportunity with the Maple Leafs to sustain his career as a full-time NHL player. Knowing Zach, the Toronto Maple Leafs are getting a high character guy and a real good player.”

– Dea and D Harrison Ruopp were reassigned to Wheeling on Thursday.

– Four Wilkes-Barre/Scranton games will be televised in the Pittsburgh market on WPMY22. The televised games are: March 14 against Hershey; March 21 vs. Binghamton; April 4 vs. Lehigh Valley and April 18 vs. Norfolk.