COVID-19 pandemic changes AHL fundamentally.

For the past 11 months or so, the phrase “new normal” has been inescapable.

Whether it’s shopping for groceries, sending kids to school or, yes, conducting sporting events, the coronavirus pandemic has fundamentally altered almost every part of life. So, of course, it needed a trendy buzzword.

Just don’t expect the American Hockey League or its teams to embrace it as readily.

Because while the 2020-21 season is a new reality for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, there’s really nothing normal about it. The game experience, season outlook and day-to-day operations will all be a learning curve for fans, players, coaches and the front office.

So with the 22nd season in team history set to begin Monday at Mohegan Sun Arena, let’s take a look at the most noticeable changes for a season amid a pandemic:

Sound of silenceThe home opener is usually marked with pomp and circumstance, drawing one of the largest crowds of the season.

On Monday, the only “fans” welcoming the Penguins and their new coaching staff will be made of cardboard.

With the amount of COVID-19 cases still high across the country, capacity is either severely limited or halted altogether throughout the league. Luckily, fans can still watch every game through the AHLTV streaming service.

However, the atmosphere will be completely new inside the building. The typical lift a team might get from a big hit or fight will have to come solely from ice level.

“It’s definitely going to be different, and the energy in the rink is going to be different,” forward Justin Almeida said. “We’re going to have to find it as a team. A lot of teams might have less focus if there’s no fans, and we need to take advantage of stuff like that.”

The effects won’t all be negative, necessarily. Almeida also said it will be possible to hear teammates all over the ice, so communication should improve. Likewise, head coach J.D. Forrest said it will be easier to hear who’s talking and who isn’t.

Long time, no seeIf you think the Penguins and their rivals are annoyed with one another during a typical season, this one may get even more chippy.

In an effort to limit travel, teams will only play divisional opponents and, in the Penguins’ case, those within close driving distance. That means 32 games against four teams: Hershey (10), Lehigh Valley (10), Binghamton (6) and Syracuse (6).

Playing teams like Hershey and Lehigh Valley even 12 times is common, but those games are usually spread out over a six-month season. This year, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton may see the same team three times in a span of two weeks.

“When you’re seeing teams that many times so frequently, it’s going to bring a lot of rivalry, even extend the rivalry that was there before,” Jordy Bellerive said. “I think it’s going to be a lot of physical games, and both teams are going to have to make their own energy, so a lot of talk on the bench and noise.”

The Syracuse and Binghamton franchises used to be among the Penguins’ biggest rivals, so it’s possible the setup will add some needed juice to those matchups.

While the physicality of the games won’t be different, teams may be more willing to switch up schemes from time to time to throw off opponents.

“Change a little something here, add a wrinkle to throw the other team off the scent of what they’re really trying to do,” Forrest said. “On our side, it’s trying to come up with a way that we can know what’s going on in the room without being too obvious every game to the other team.”

No Cup?It appears the Penguins won’t have a chance at their first ever Calder Cup this season.

The other 27 teams that haven’t opted out will have to wait as well.

While there still hasn’t been an official league announcement, multiple AHL personnel — including Iowa coach Tim Army and Hershey coach Spencer Carbery — have said publicly they’ve heard the Cup won’t be awarded in 2021. Instead, a shortened playoff to determine division champions is the likeliest scenario.

So, what happens when the usual prize everyone chases is off the table? What other motivation will players find?

“We’ve got plans for both avenues here,” Forrest said. “As far as I can tell with conversations I’ve had with players and staff, everyone is so excited to just be playing hockey and be back in the building and be around the team that the motivation, the enthusiasm, everything is built into this year. It’s been pent up for so long that I don’t think that changes the output that we get from guys.

“We’ll come up with our own type of … our own carrot at the end if we need to, but until that’s official we’ll just wait and see.”

Multiple Penguins dismissed the idea it would significantly change the level of play. Forward Jordan Nolan cited the animosity that will develop between opponents and, more simply, pride. No one wants to end the season with their game regressing.

“We have a lot of guys that just have stuff to prove,” defenseman Jon Lizotte added. “Just having everyone try to earn spots for next year, and you don’t have a lot of time to prove it with the shortened season, I think everyone is going to have a little chip on their shoulder.”

Be flexibleIt’s no secret the pandemic will cast a constant shadow over the season. Multiple games have already been moved or canceled, including the Penguins’ opener, and some teams haven’t even received approval to play.

Behind the scenes, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton is doing its best to keep everyone safe. There are masks and social distancing in the dressing room, and game prep has some new wrinkles. The Penguins have been using the Webex virtual forum when possible and an app called Learn to Win, where coaches can make small lessons and videos for players to access throughout the year.

As much as compete level and work ethic are bound to be mentioned throughout the spring, flexibility to deal with any operational challenges that are certain to pop up will be in high demand.

For those that haven’t played competitively in almost a year, that’s a small price to pay to be back.

“It’s hockey; you’re always dealing with (adversity) every game,” Lizotte said. “As long as everyone buys into the systems and learns them quickly, the more we hop on the wagon, the better off we’ll be.”