PROVIDENCE — Tonight is one of those “two teams headed in opposite directions” matchups at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center.

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins have reeled off eight wins in a row, overtaking the Providence Bruins for first place in the Atlantic Division.

The P-Bruins, meanwhile, are mired in a 1-4-1-1 skid.

Zane McIntyre will start in goal for Providence and ECHL vet Anthony Peters for the Pens. The 27-year-old Peters has gone 6-0 since coming in from Cincinnati of the ECHL at the end of December.

Providence’s Jeremy Lauzon returns to the lineup after missing 22 games with a concussion. Matt Beleskey (broken orbital bone) won’t play tonight, but probably will later in the weekend.

The P-Bruins and Penguins have played only once so far. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton won 4-3 in overtime in Pennsylvania on Nov. 11.

For the Penguins, East Providence native and assistant coach Tim Army will be back behind the bench for an AHL game at The Dunk for the first time since he was with Portland in 2005.

Veterans Tom Kostopoulos and Tom Sestito remain out with injuries. Coach Clark Donatelli said both are week to week.

Top players Daniel Sprong, Jean-Sebastian Dea, Dominik Simon and Casey DeSmith are on recall with Pittsburgh.

PROVIDENCE LINEUP

Cehlarik-Szwarz-Czarnik

Agostino-JFK-Bjork

Fitzgerald-Cave-Senyshyn

Blidh-Hennessey-Porter

D PAIRS