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WILKES-BARRE — The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and Lehigh Valley Phantoms are about to get well-acquainted.

The two Atlantic Division rivals will face each other 11 times between Friday and April 12. The Penguins have a healthy 9-point lead over the second-place Phantoms, but with so many head-to-head meetings coming up, things could change with a total of 22 points at stake in the season series.

“They have three games in hand also,” said head coach Clark Donatelli after Thursday’s practice at the Toyota Sportsplex. “Every game means a lot so I’m sure there’s going to be some spirited games.”

The Penguins faced Lehigh Valley just once this season, a 4-1 loss in Allentown, but the Phantoms are a division foe and the rivalry is expected to match the intensity of the one with Hershey.

Danny Kristo wasn’t with the Penguins for the first game against the Phantoms, but he has had a taste of the Hershey rivalry. He said if the Phantoms rivalry is anything similar, he’s excited.

“It’s going to be 11 good tests for us and it’s going to make our team better,” Kristo said. “When you play a team so often, it comes down to hard work and grit. You don’t even need to pre-scout the other team anymore because you know what they’re going to be doing.”

And it’s safe to assume that the Phantoms have their eyes on whittling down the Penguins’ division lead.

In fact, there is so much at stake in the 11 games with the Phantoms that Penguins forward Teddy Blueger was willing to make a prediction.

“We’re the top two teams in our division. Whoever comes out with the advantage in these 11 games will probably get the top spot in the division,” Blueger said. “There’s a lot at stake, and that’s why you’re going to see scrums and things getting heated.”

Injury update

D Derrick Pouliot (lower body) skated without any issues on Thursday. Donatelli said there’s a chance he could return for Friday’s game. C Kevin Porter (illness) also skated and is likely to play on Friday.

Battle of the best

The Penguins have the highest points percentage in the AHL (.763) while the Phantoms (.703) are second overall. The two teams are evenly matched as the Penguins have a slight advantage in goals scored, 137-136, and have allowed just five fewer goals than the Phantoms this season. Last season, the Penguins were 7-4-1-0 against Lehigh Valley.

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By Tom Venesky

[email protected]

Up next…

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at Lehigh Valley Phantoms

Friday, Jan. 20 at 7 p.m. at the PPL Center in Allentown

Listen live on 103.1FM-WILK

Players to watch

Lehigh Valley – Jordan Weal leads the Phantoms with 37 points in 35 games.

Penguins – Carter Rowney has a goal in four straight games.

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