The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins appear to be hitting their stride at the right time of the season.
The Penguins scored three times in the opening four minutes Saturday night as the locals beat the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, 6-2, at the PPL Center.
WBS won six of the last seven against Lehigh Valley, and 10 of the last 12 against the Allentown-based team.
The Penguins, which already clinched a spot in the postseason, won their last six games heading into Thursday’s game at Bridgeport.
Aaron Hugler was a one-man wrecking force Saturday.
He scored two first-period goals one minute apart, and Aidan McDonough lit the lamps just 2 minutes, 17 seconds in as WBS led, 3-0, not even five minutes into the game.
Hugler finished the hat trick seven minutes into the second period as the Pens were up four goals.
Atley Calvert added a power-play goal midway through the second period, and McGroarty netted his second goal to set the final score.
Both of Lehigh Valley’s goals came on the power play.
Joel Blomqvist got the start in goal for the Pens, stopping 22 of 24 shots.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton returns home to Mohegan Arena on Saturday night to host the Cleveland Monsters, and have five games remaining in the regular season.