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The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are well aware of the urgency that exists to start scoring goals after being shut out in their last two games. But head coach Clark Donatelli doesn’t want them focusing on actually putting the puck in the net, but rather the process it takes just to build up to that point.

That’s been the emphasis during the last two days of practice as the Penguins look to regain their scoring touch during Thursday’s game against Syracuse.

“When you haven’t scored a goal in a long time it wears on you,” Donatelli said after Wednesday’s practice at the Toyota Sportsplex. “It’s more of a mental thing. What I tell them is the body of work leading up to scoring the goal is the biggest thing. If we weren’t getting the body of work then we’d have problems.

“You’re getting the chances and that’s 95 percent of it. The other five percent, you’ve got to bury it.”

At the same time, the Penguins know they can’t force the issue when it comes to getting the goals going again. When that happens, plays become complicated and fall apart as players try to do too much.

The solution?

According to winger Tom Kuhnhackl, the most important thing is simplicity.

“Sometimes you try to do too much instead of keeping it simple and getting in front of the net,” he said. “We’ve got to get a lot of shots, a lot of traffic and create screens, especially on the power play. Just get back to fundamentals and maybe get a greasy goal to get us going.”

In practice, the Penguins worked on simple elements such as shooting the puck, pouncing on rebounds and all the important details of playing in the offensive zone. Donatelli is a firm believer that if the team can execute in practice, it will carry over to the game.

“The tempo has been really good and the guys have practiced really hard,” Donatelli said. “I feel good and the guys are upbeat and ready to go.”

NOTES

– The Penguins will likely be without C Kael Mouillierat on Thursday, who is expected sit with an upper body injury. Donatelli said D Steve Oleksy and G Tristan Jarry are also likely out for Thursday’s game, although they are getting closer to a return to the lineup.

– Donatelli said F Matia Marcantuoni, who was sent to Wheeling on Wednesday morning, was reassigned in order to get into more games since returning from an injury. Marcantuoni sat out the last two games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

– The Penguins recalled forward John McCarron from Wheeling on Wednesday. McCarron stood out in training camp while skating on a line with Sahir Gill and Ty Loney. “He’s a big kid and can skate. He has good hands too,” Donatelli said. “I told him (in Wheeling) to keep playing well and your time is going to come. It’s time to get in the lineup, make a splash and see what he can do.”

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins head coach Clark Donatelli goes over plays during Wednesday’s practice at the Toyota Sportsplex.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_Penspractice.jpg.optimal.jpgWilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins head coach Clark Donatelli goes over plays during Wednesday’s practice at the Toyota Sportsplex. Aimee Dilger|Times Leader

By Tom Venesky

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Syracuse Crunch (13-12-4-1, .517, 5th place in the North Division) at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (21-7-0-1, .741, 1st place in the Atlantic Division)

Tonight, 5:05 p.m. at the Mohegan Sun Arena

Listen live on 103.1FM-WILK

Players to watch:

Syracuse – Philippe Paradis has 17 penalty minutes in two games against the Penguins this season.

Penguins – Tom Kuhnhackl and Dominik Simon each have two goals and an assist in two games against the Crunch.

Reach Tom Venesky at 570-991-6395 or on Twitter @TLTomVenesky