The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins enter the AHL All-Star Break firmly in a playoff position.

PITTSBURGH -- While the Pittsburgh Penguins are in a dogfight for a playoff berth, their AHL affiliate is carving out a comfortable spot in the postseason conversation. The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are hanging onto the third-place position in the Atlantic Division with a 23-16-5 record heading into the All-Star Break. 

Puljujarvi Earning NHL Spot

The Penguins need some reinforcements to their bottom six if they want to earn a playoff spot. They could overpay for a rental before the trade deadline, but they could also just look within their own organization. On top of that list is former top pick, Jesse Puljujarvi. After offseason hip surgery, the rest of the league passed on him, but the Penguins have given him all the time he needed to rehabilitate. 

Now that he's gotten his legs under him, teams around the league must be kicking themselves. He's put up eight points in 12 games in the AHL, playing top-line and power play minutes, and he looks like he could be the NHL club's big acquisition prior to the deadline. 

Poulin Finding His Way

The Penguins have to love the play of Sam Poulin since he's returned from injury. In just 24 games played, he's scored 11 times, good for second on the team behind Alex Nylander. The goal-scoring is a positive sign for his development, as his playmaking has always been the focal point of his game.

It seems he's rounding out his game and trusting his shooting ability more with each passing game. The results speak for themselves, as he's put himself on a 30-goal pace over a full season. 

Not only is Poulin starting to score at a pace that matches his first-round pedigree, but his confidence is increasing at an exponential rate. It was most evident in the Baby Pens' recent victory over the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. He led the team with two goals, including the game-winner in the third period, and stood up to a fight against a tougher and more experienced player in Garrett Wilson. 

When the Penguins selected Poulin in the 2019 NHL Draft, they were selecting a player who played with some swagger and expected good things to happen every time he touched the puck. With his string of injuries and time away from the game, that confidence had been stripped away from him. It's returned with a vengeance, and it could earn him an NHL call-up very soon. 

Blomqvist Shining Bright 

Aside from some standout play from Poulin and Puljujarvi, the Baby Pens are also getting incredible goaltending. AHL rookie Joel Blomqvist has been sensational in his first professional season in North America. He's been the number one option in Wilkes-Barre, ranking in the top five in save percentage and goals-against average and top 10 in wins. The 21-year-old is cementing himself as not only a top prospect in the Penguins' organization but also as one of the best up-and-coming goaltenders across the league. 

The second half of the NHL season will look much like the first half for the Penguins. It'll be back and forth, and there's no telling whether they will be a playoff team or not. What is clear, however, is the WIlkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins have help to offer. 

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