The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins begin their Calder Cup quest against a familiar foe.

PITTSBURGH-- The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are gearing up for a Calder Cup run. Armed with one of the most exciting lineups in recent memory, the Penguins have a real chance to make noise in the AHL postseason.

Their first test is a best of three series with cross-state rivals, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Here's what to watch for as the Penguins and Phantoms battle it out in the first round of the Calder Cup playoffs. 

1. Rivalry Reignited

The Penguins and Phantoms mirror the disdain their NHL counterparts have for one another, and that boils over onto the ice each and every matchup. After the Baby Pens handedly took the regular season series with a record of 8-1-3 against the Phantoms. The playoffs are a brand new season, however, and this series will mark the team's first meeting in the postseason since 2015. 

The Penguins also have had the better of the Phantoms in their playoff matchups as well. Since 2001, the teams have played four series. The Penguins have won three of those series and posted a record of 13-9 over those four playoffs. 

2. New Faces, Same Result?

The Penguins received a huge late season lift with the addition of five exciting prospects. Forwards Tristan Broz, Cooper Foster, and Ville Koivunen, and defensemen Owen Pickering and Emil Pieniniemi all joined Wilkes-Barre recently for the remainder of the season. They will look to give the team a boost in what should be a neck-and-neck series. 

The biggest question mark is whether these youngsters can be plug and play for Wilkes-Barre. The team finished third in their division this season and won 39 games, so it's not as if they are searching for leading scorers or all-star defenders. They are. however, looking for depth and unlikely goals from unlikely places. Any of these players have the skill, potential, and determination to contribute when it counts the most. 

3. Sam Poulin's Time to Shine

So much of the Pens' postseason chances hinge on the play of Samuel Poulin. The former first round pick is enjoying the best professional season of his young career, and he's looking to continue that success in the playoffs. He managed 16 goals and 31 points in an injury-shortened year, and he looks like he is truly on the cusp of the NHL. He is one of the go-to scoring option for Wilkes-Barre, and they are looking to him to lead the way in this series. A strong showing could earn Poulin a job in Pittsburgh in 2024, can he take advantage of this huge opportunity? 

The Penguins and Phantoms kick-off their series in Wilkes-Barre at Mohegan Sun Arena. 

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