OTTAWA Sidney Crosby bluntly has stated after each of the Penguins past two losses that they were outworked by the opponent.

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1 Daily Clips 1/27/13 Penguins notebook: Talent is there, but effort lacking By Dejan Kovacevic Published: Saturday, January 26, 2013, 7:04 p.m. Updated 6 hours ago OTTAWA Sidney Crosby bluntly has stated after each of the Penguins past two losses that they were outworked by the opponent. Nothing terribly out of the ordinary with such an assessment from any captain, of course. Besides, it wasn t exactly a trade secret for anyone watching the 5-2 loss Wednesday to Toronto and the final two periods of the 4-2 loss Friday in Winnipeg. The cold fact is the Maple Leafs and Jets displayed more drive, determination and discipline. Thus, it would appear that priority No. 1 for the Sunday faceoff against Ottawa at Scotiabank Place, before any of those turnovers and other lapses can be addressed, is something far more fundamental. They need to try. A lot harder. We have the talent here. No one s ever questioned that. It s just a mindset thing, right winger Matt Cooke said after the team s practice at the Bell Sens Plex. We know we can score and create chances, but we have to be able to defend. I think we came back a little rusty and tried to make the same plays we were at the end of last season. Cooke was asked the difference between the Penguins opening two wins and these past two losses. He placed that in the mindset category, as well. Obviously, there s emotion there automatically when you re playing the Flyers and Rangers. Playing Toronto and Winnipeg, we haven t had rivalries there. We got caught with our guard down a little bit. And that s something that needs to change in our room. Crosby, too, reiterated his contention to that effect. I think you saw our work ethic in Philadelphia and New York. You saw what we re capable of, he said. We need to get back to that.

2 Back to work Coach Dan Bylsma put the Penguins through a fast-paced, 46-minute practice highlighted by hard one-on-one drills one generally sees early in a conventional training camp. The only player missing was left winger Tanner Glass, whose left shoulder slammed hard into the boards in Winnipeg early in the third period. He returned and finished the game. All lines and pairings remained the same except Dustin Jeffrey taking Glass spot. Snowy stuff e_sblt As part of management s plan to preserve players rest, the Penguins stayed in Winnipeg after the game and flew to Canada s capital Saturday afternoon. e_sblt Because of the 5 p.m. faceoff Sunday, the Penguins are not scheduled to have a morning skate. Cold as it was in Winnipeg, the Penguins actually traded down with the trip, going from minus-3 degrees to minus-5 in Ottawa. The Bell Sens Plex, practice facility of the Senators, was filled well beyond reasonable capacity, mostly with hockey-playing children eager for a look. One shouted out to Crosby as he came off the ice, Have a nice day! Ex-Pen Gonchar unsure where future will take him By Rob Rossi Published: Sunday, January 27, 2013, 12:01 a.m. Updated 6 hours ago Sergei Gonchar is trying not to think. That is no easy task for one of the NHL s most cerebral defensemen. He is 38, in the final season of his contract, and there is another world out there for him, his wife and their two daughters. That world could be anywhere. It could be Ottawa, playing out his NHL career with the Senators. Or Pittsburgh, finishing on a run with dear friend Evgeni Malkin.

3 Or Sochi, Russia, site of the 2014 Winter Olympics. Or Moscow, in a cozy apartment with a kitchen cramped by racks of fine wine. It could be South Beach, boating in the clear waters off Florida s coast, baking in the sun and basking in the glow of longtime friends. The promise of that world any of them is why Gonchar is trying not to think. If his career, which dates to a 1994 debut with the Washington Capitals, is short on months, a moment spent recalling the past or pondering the future is just wasted time. You can t plan the way you re going to finish it, Gonchar said. You don t know how it s going to turn out. Pittsburgh always there Games like the one Sunday afternoon are never easy for Gonchar. He loves his Ottawa teammates. The franchise s surprising return to the Stanley Cup playoffs last season rejuvenated him. He believes, though many outside Canada s capital do not, that the Cup could come to Ottawa this summer. Playing against the Penguins, as the Senators will Sunday, still is not a lot of fun for Gonchar, even though almost three years have passed since his tenure in Pittsburgh ended. I had a special time there, Gonchar said. They are such great, great players. It was probably the highlight of my career. To be honest, not that many hockey players have a chance to play with the two best players. It will be there always for me. It will be there for them, too. Gonchar spent five seasons with the Penguins. He was, and remains, the most prominent free agent to sign with the franchise. His five-year, $25 million contract in July 2005 represented an enormous commitment for a cash-strapped franchise. No free agent has been paid more by the Penguins. History shows the Gonchar deal was former general manager Craig Patrick s last great move, and not just because Gonchar took a young, shy and uncomfortable Malkin under his wing. He helped me become (a) good player in (the) NHL, Malkin said, downplaying the MVP season he had without Gonchar as a teammate. Sergei (would) teach me hockey, life, America. He is like (a) brother for me. Even now, he is not in Pittsburgh, (but) he is my best friend.

4 Gonchar s time with the Penguins, which ended in July 2010 when he signed with Ottawa, should be remembered for an aura that became a constant. There is a reason this group of Penguins leaders Sidney Crosby and alternate captains Malkin, Brooks Orpik and Chris Kunitz never panic. He was just so calm, and that kind of wore off on everyone, Crosby said. He brought it in the room. He brought it on the ice. He just seemed like he never really panicked. Everything was always calm, cool and collected with him. That carried over. He was here my first year. That was the big acquisition for us. The way he treated me I could not have asked for a better veteran. I was a younger guy, and he was always there to help. You obviously saw that with Geno, but Gonch was that way with all the younger guys. Certainly he was that way with me, and I ll never forget it. Orpik, who became Gonchar s defense partner, said there is no guarantee the franchise s turnaround the Penguins were a bottom-five team in 2006 but played for the Cup in 08 would have happened without Gonchar or his family. The Gonchars threw team parties, organized events and helped create a family atmosphere that is now an organizational hallmark. Gonchar was usually the first player at practice, quick to share training tips. He became Malkin s translator. He even was the guy who replaced broken lounge appliances. Even as quiet as he was, he had that quiet leadership quality where just his presence look, a guy that established being around a lot of young guys who were impressionable, even if Gonch wasn t saying anything, we all, not just the defensemen, kind of just watched how he carried himself, his routine, that stuff, Orpik said. Not enough has been made about his role here. It wasn t just with Geno. There is that because they really are great friends, but Gonch was big for everybody. You can ask anyone who played with him who is still in this room. I don t think you ll find a more respected guy who s been here. From Russia with energy Two recent Game 7s losses have left their mark. There is the one he would wipe from his memory if he could: The last game at Mellon Arena, his last game with the Penguins, a Cup defense-ending defeat against Montreal in 2010 and that haunting image of Gonchar misplaying a bouncing puck. That one lingered until last spring.

5 Now there is the Game 7 that helped him find a spark: At Madison Square Garden, the eighthseeded Senators playing the favored New York Rangers to the end, falling by a goal. Yeah, that loss was the one that started Gonchar thinking maybe there is more left in this Russian s tank. Playing for a Cup contender, which, again, he believes the Senators are, can make a veteran feel young, Gonchar said. Then, after a summer spent as always training with Malkin in Moscow, the NHL lockout happened. It provided Gonchar another chance to play with his best friend, the one who dedicated his Hart Trophy to him. When you play with a friend, you find the chemistry right away, and it gives you that energy boost, Gonchar said of the 37 games he and Malkin played for Metallurg Magnitogorsk of the Kontinental Hockey League. You always love to play. When you play with a partner, you enjoy it more than you normally would. It s a special feeling, and you don t have it every night. But when you have it, you have it, and you want it to be that way all the time. It could be that way all the time. The trade deadline is April 3. A free-agency summer approaches. Soon enough, the world could be anywhere for Gonchar. Obviously, everybody talks about me and Pittsburgh, but I am having fun in Ottawa, Gonchar said. I had fun in Magnitogorsk with Evgeni. I have fun at home with my family. I haven t thought about what is next. My focus is to do as good as I can and have as much fun as I can right now. However it s going to work out is how it s going to work out. Winger back on familiar ground By Jonathan Bombulie Published: Sunday, January 27, 2013, 12:01 a.m. Updated 6 hours ago

6 As far as potential NHL impact goes, the signing of veteran defenseman Mark Eaton to a 25- game AHL tryout contract was the most significant personnel move the Penguins made this week. But it wasn t close to the biggest headline in Wilkes-Barre. That honor was reserved for the return of winger Tom Kostopoulos, who also signed a 25-game tryout deal. Now 34, Kostopoulos spent most of his first five pro seasons with the Baby Pens. He s the franchise s all-time leader in games played (318), goals (97), assists (149) and points (246). He s a legend. His picture s all over the place here, Eaton said. Kostopoulos previous stay in Pittsburgh wasn t as memorable as Eaton s, but he did have 10 goals and 76 penalty minutes in 79 games from Since leaving the Penguins, Kostopoulos has recorded 50 goals and 54 fighting majors in 536 NHL games while polishing his physical fourth-line style. I m probably a little more relaxed out there, Kostopoulos said. I used to try to go 100 mph everywhere and create that way. I think I m a little more patient. Because Eaton and Kostopoulos are playing on tryout contracts, they re free to sign with any NHL team, not just the Penguins. Baby Pens coach John Hynes said it s too early to predict how their immediate futures will play out. On both sides, it s going to be a little bit of touch and feel, he said. There s past relationships. There s good relationships. Both parties know each other well. Now it s about playing, production and seeing where it goes from here. Co-stars Rookie winger Beau Bennett suffered an undisclosed injury and left Wednesday s game against St. John s in the second period. Hynes called the injury minor, but Bennett s participation in Monday s AHL all-star game was in doubt. Regardless of Bennett s status, the Baby Pens will have at least one all-star. Chad Kolarik, the speedy winger the Penguins acquired from the New York Rangers in a minor deal Thursday, was chosen for the game before being dealt. He led the Connecticut Whale in scoring with 16 goals and 35 points in 41 games. If Bennett is out, rookie defenseman Brian Dumoulin is a strong candidate to be added to the roster. Dumoulin, who came to the Penguins from Carolina in the Jordan Staal trade, had two

7 goals and three assists in his past five games coming into this weekend, filling the void left by the call-up of Simon Despres, Brian Strait and Robert Bortuzzo at the end of the lockout. Root Sports will broadcast the all-star game live at 7 p.m. Taking it outside The Baby Pens played in the fifth outdoor game in AHL history last Sunday, beating the Hershey Bears, 2-1, in overtime in front of 17,311 fans at Hersheypark Stadium. Paul Thompson scored the winning goal, beating ex-penguins goalie Dany Sabourin on a breakaway. Heating up Goalie Brad Thiessen, who has struggled since winning AHL goalie of the year honors in , is having a spectacular January. The fourth-year pro is 5-1 with an 0.84 goals-against average,.962 save percentage and three shutouts in six starts in the month. Kenny Agostino Yale (ECAC), Left wing 6-foot-1, 200 pounds How acquired: Fifth-round pick, 140th overall, in the 2010 draft How he s doing: The Penguins have a handful of scoring wingers playing college hockey who are jockeying for position on the organizational depth chart. Agostino has moved to the head of the class as a junior, leading Yale in scoring and ranking in the top 20 in the country in points per game with nine goals and 14 assists in 18 games. He has six points in his past four games, all Yale wins, and was named ECAC player of the week and one of 77 Hobey Baker Award finalists earlier this month. Why he might make it to the NHL: He s a talented finisher with good hockey sense. Why he might not: His skating is a question mark. Rossi: It s better for NHL to keep calling boarding By Rob Rossi Published: Sunday, January 27, 2013, 12:01 a.m. Updated 6 hours ago

8 There is a boarding problem in the NHL. The first week of this truncated season proved the league is seriously trying to fix it. After games in cities from Pittsburgh to Edmonton, there were grumblings from players about the frequency with which boarding penalties have been assessed. That was the case Wednesday after the Penguins 5-2 loss to Toronto. Inside the dressing room at Consol Energy Center, players said they understood boarding was being paid closer attention by referees. However, players noted, the standard for what constitutes boarding appeared to be inconsistent. Rule 41.4 in the NHL Rule Book: A boarding penalty shall be imposed on any player who checks or pushes a defenseless opponent in such a manner that causes the opponent to hit or impact the boards violently or dangerously.... There is an enormous amount of judgment involved in the application of this rule by the Referees. Actually, there needs to be a rule by which players judge what is and is not acceptable, and it should be this: Can he see me? Unsuspecting hits are a big culprit for concussion, said Micky Collins, director of the UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program. When a player gets hit from behind, it becomes about body control, postural control and neck strength and there is none for a player who can t brace for a hit. Collins favors any rule that would eliminate dangerous hits so long as it doesn t take away from the integrity of the game. Cracking down on boarding is no great harm to the integrity of hockey. Neither is eliminating head shots completely. Just because concussion poster-boy Sidney Crosby is feeling normal again does not mean the NHL should stop taking steps in the name of head safety. That includes adhering strictly to return-to-play protocol that anecdotally was not always followed by clubs last season.

9 A recent study conducted by Collins and colleagues found that 1 in 4 youth athletes with concussions could have been cleared for return to play before he or she was ready. In the NHL, players must reach exertion physical and cognitive before taking their final clearance examinations. That is not always the case at the youth levels, Collins said. Kids are watching. More important, so are their parents. Across the board, the NHL needs to keep that in mind when it comes to safety measures. Komisarek: Defending Malkin, Crosby can be a chore By Josh Yohe Published: Sunday, January 27, 2013, 12:01 a.m. Updated 6 hours ago The Trib s weekly hockey talk with... Maple Leafs defenseman Mike Komisarek. Q: Does playing against Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin ever get easier? A: (Laughter) They keep getting better, so it keeps getting harder. What makes them so hard to defend is just how versatile they both are. There are some great players in the league who are difficult to defend, but some of those guys are kind of predictable. But Sid and Malkin aren t like that at all. They are both such great skaters that you never really feel comfortable against them. They are both great goal scorers and maybe the two best passers in the league.... It takes a team effort to stop them. One man doesn t get it done. Playing against them is not really like any other tandem in the league. Q: Is this building (Consol) a little different than Mellon Arena? A: You could say that. The only thing in common is that they still sell it out and that you still have a great team to play against. Q: Crosby and Malkin might be the players that scare you most, but is there more to the Penguins? A: Oh, definitely. There isn t much that they don t do well. They re fast, they re physical, they have great goaltenders. I think anyone would agree that they re one of the best teams in the league right now. It s always a huge challenge having to deal with them. On the Penguins: A lion in another winter

10 By Dave Molinari / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette It seems a stretch to suggest that Eric Tangradi might have been born a bit early. After all, the guy still is two weeks shy of his 24th birthday, so his pro career is much closer to its formative stages than its final ones. Still, even though the career path Tangradi elected to follow led him to his desired destination, the NHL, at a fairly young age, he might have been tempted to take another if the option had been there. Had Penn State's hockey program, which is in its first year of Division I play, been competing at that level when Tangradi was making career-related decisions as a teenager in Philadelphia, he might have chosen to play for the Nittany Lions rather than going to the Ontario Hockey League. "Being a Philadelphia kid growing up, you don't really find out too much about Division I hockey until you turn 15 or 16 years old," he said. "If there was a program at Penn State, being a hockey fan, I'm sure I would have seen multiple games before I even turned 15. "It definitely would have been an option of mine and may have lured me from going to play junior." Tangradi, who said he likely would have majored in engineering had he attended Penn State, has some ties to the school. His girlfriend is an alumna and won a national championship with the women's volleyball team. "I was able to walk the campus and see [what it is like] there," he said. "It's a really unbelievable school and an unbelievable campus. Athletics and education are incredible there." Coach Guy Gadowsky's program remains a work-in-progress and will be pitted against traditional powers such as Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan State and Michigan when Big Ten conference begins play next winter. Still, Tangradi is one of many who feel Penn State can be competitive against even elite opponents if it can corner the market on talent coming out of Western Pennsylvania and the Philadelphia area. And he figures that the Pegula Ice Arena, which is to open next season, will help to attract some of those players.

11 "The record Pennsylvania's had with [in-state] players of late, if they can get half of those guys to go there, they'll be in good shape," Tangradi said. "No matter what, in three or four years, I think they'll be a top-10-in-the-nation sort of team. Once the players and students start seeing the facilities and amenities they have there -- the new rink going up -- I think they'll be able to attract a lot of talent." It gets late early Tomas Vokoun can't speak from personal experience about how things played out during the NHL's lockout-shortened season in 1995, when a labor dispute limited the league to a 48-game schedule. He was, after all, still laboring in his native Czech Republic the previous time a labor dispute kept the league shuttered until mid-january. But he has been around long enough to appreciate that it's important, maybe imperative, to accumulate points early, especially when there are so few games being played. "It's not going to be one of those seasons where you can say, after 20 games, 'OK, let's kick it into gear now,' " he said. "It's going to be too tough. "I've been on teams where we were chasing teams in the playoffs hunt and it hardly ever works out. Every game matters so much down the stretch, and there are a lot of three-point games. "It's hard to catch up, especially when you have to jump two or three teams." The week ahead Today: at Ottawa... Evgeni Malkin and Senators defenseman Sergei Gonchar, pictured at left, will be on the ice together for the first time since being with Magnitogorsk in the Kontinental Hockey League during the NHL lockout. Tuesday: vs. New York Islanders... Sidney Crosby has put up 66 points, matching his most against any opponent, in 36 career games against the Islanders. Thursday: at New York Rangers... The Penguins, who earned a 6-3 victory in Manhattan a week ago, have won at least twice at the Garden in four of the past six seasons. Saturday: vs. New Jersey... Devils goalie Martin Brodeur has shut out the Penguins nine times, one shy of Bernie Parent's record for an opponent. Penguins: Niskanen fits right in on left side

12 By Dave Molinari / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette WINNIPEG, Manitoba -- When the Penguins acquired defenseman Matt Niskanen from Dallas in the James Neal-Alex Goligoski trade in 2011, it looked as if he might be something of a reclamation project. A talented young player, he had shown he was capable of contributing at the NHL level before his confidence appeared to have been shredded by then-stars coach Marc Crawford. Penguins general manager Ray Shero, who made certain Niskanen was included in the deal, didn't look at him quite that way, though. He didn't see a defenseman who was damaged goods, who might be too much of a gamble to really count on. Instead, he looked at Niskanen as a strong candidate to fill the very role he has so far this season. "One of the reasons Ray Shero had Matt Niskanen in the deal was his ability to play on the left side and play upward of 20 minutes," said Penguins assistant coach Todd Reirden, who oversees their defensemen. So, as the Penguins prepare to face Ottawa at 5:08 p.m. today at Scotiabank Place, Niskanen is playing opposite fellow right-handed shot Kris Letang on one of their top two pairings and logging an average of 21 minutes and 12 seconds of ice time. And looking quite good in the process. Niskanen doesn't object to playing the left side -- he has done it, off and on, since high school -- and said he doesn't mind adjusting his game a bit to mesh with Letang's. Niskanen's skills aside, Letang is the big-time offensive talent on the pairing. That means Niskanen is charged with tending to the defensive zone when Letang acts on an opportunity to get involved in the offense. "I have to recognize that he's going to be up the ice quite a bit," Niskanen said. "Recognize that he might make a play in some situations where another guy might just make the safe play off the [boards]. "For me, it's just always be ready and look for open ice to support him. Be there for him when he's involved in the attack a lot, be there to back him up in those situations." Niskanen's production -- a goal and two assists in four games -- is solid, and he doesn't believe his statistics are unduly suppressed by working with Letang.

13 "In some cases, maybe I wouldn't [join] the rush, because he's beaten me to it already, but that's OK," Niskanen said. "We can just read off each other and, when the hole's there, one of us should be jumping [into] it." And there are times when Niskanen's offense benefits from the partnership. As a right-hander on the left point, he is in position to shoot without having to stop the puck when Letang gives him a cross-ice feed. That happened several times in the Penguins' 6-3 win at Madison Square Garden a week ago, and one shot eluded New York goalie Henrik Lundqvist for the Penguins' third goal. "I've gotten some nice shots off because of him," Niskanen said. He and Letang have eight shots each, tying for fourth on the team behind James Neal, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Heading into training camp in 2011, many had serious doubts about whether Niskanen would remain with this team, let alone be a significant part of it. He often struggled after being acquired from Dallas and had sunk to the bottom of the Penguins' depth chart when camp began. He entered the preseason as a likely spare part. But Niskanen settled in nicely and validated Shero's belief in him by playing at a consistently high level all season. It was, Niskanen said, all a matter of being comfortable and confident, and the difficult early months he spent with the Penguins helped to lay a foundation for the success that has followed. "I came in after the trade and I think I grasped the concept of what we wanted to do," Niskanen said. "It just took me some experience to get better at it. I made some mistakes that first spring when I got here, and those lessons are hard-learned, but I took them with me and came back knowing exactly what I had to do in camp last year. My game has really come a long ways, starting at that point." So far, that the coaching staff decided he was the best option to pair with Letang, the biggest talent on their blue line. "We saw an escalation in his game last year where he should be given the opportunity to play in the top four," Reirden said. "We were trying to figure the best way to do it, and, looking back on the success he had playing with [Sergei] Zubov in Dallas... it is something we thought would work well." A week into the season, it has. Penguins Notebook: Close friends Malkin, Gonchar foes on ice Shelly Anderson and Dave Molinari / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

14 OTTAWA -- Penguins center Evgeni Malkin certainly isn't in defenseman Sergei Gonchar's shadow these days. Malkin was mentored by the fellow Russian his first several years in the NHL, lived with the Gonchar family, and the two became good friends. But Malkin, 26, is a superstar in his own right after winning the league scoring title and MVP awards last season. Then, there was a reunion. As they had during the lockout, Malkin and Gonchar played together for Malkin's hometown Metallurg Mignitogorsk of the Kontinental Hockey League during the lockout that wiped out the first three-plus months of this NHL season. That meant a return to the strong chemistry between Malkin and Gonchar. The passing, the puck movement on the power play -- it all came back. "He's unbelievable," Malkin said of Gonchar. "He's a playmaker and [sets up] great assists. We just worked every day in practice and enjoy playing together." When he left Russia for the belated start of the NHL season, Malkin was among the KHL leaders with 23 goals, 65 points in 37 games. Now it's back to reality. Gonchar will be back on the opponent side today when the Penguins play an early evening game against the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Place. Gonchar is in his third season with the Senators after spending five with the Penguins. "I'm not just focused on Gonchar; I want to win the game," Malkin said. "We're friends outside the rink, but on the ice we're not friends. If I have a chance, I'll try to beat him and score two goals." Back to roots While getting ready for a workout the Penguins squeezed in among games that were part of a youth tournament Saturday at the Senators' practice rink, defenseman Kris Letang got a reminder of where he was. "I was coming out of the [locker] room to get some sticks, and I saw the arena packed," he said. "It's typical for Canada, though, when you have a guy like [Sidney] Crosby or Malkin come to the [local] rink. Young kids will spend a few hours watching them." It likely won't be the same today. "No, I expect some boos," Letang said. But a large reception was fun while it lasted in a road city.

15 "Obviously, it's a hockey city," winger Matt Cooke said. "Most Canadian ones are. Being a Saturday afternoon right smack in the middle of a hockey tournament probably is a good thing to have a lot of people around." Tough calls The Penguins have been assessed an average of 15 penalty minutes per game through the first week of the season, placing them 15th in the NHL before Saturday. There has been, in general, less tolerance than usual for anything even resembling an infraction, with acts that seem innocuous or a normal part of the game earning players a trip to the penalty box. Not that the Penguins seem particularly surprised by that. "I just think they're unclear as to what areas need to be cracked down on," Cooke said. "It's a learning curve. We had it last time coming out of a lockout, and we're going to have it this time. "It's going to take the first 10 minutes [of each game] to get an understanding of what the two refs are planning or are willing to accept and go from there." Defenseman Deryk Engelland said he has to be particularly aware of when he makes contact with opponents who are entering the Penguins' zone. "When they chip the puck in, you have to be quick to bump into them or it's going to be [called] interference," he said. "That's probably the biggest change for my game. You can't wait two or three seconds and then hit a guy. You have to do it right away or not do it at all." The Penguins were assessed three boarding minors against Toronto and felt that the rulings on at least a couple of them were unduly strict. "The terminology for that changed last year, and it's no longer 'unsuspecting,' " Cooke said. "It's 'vulnerable' or 'not vulnerable,' and, if a guy knows you're coming, he's no longer vulnerable, because he knows. It's a tough situation." Notebook: Pens Practice at Sensplex Saturday, / 5:49 PM / Features By Sam Kasan

16 The Penguins boarded a plane for an early morning flight to Ottawa. Once arriving in the Canadian capital, the team headed to Bell Sensplex located near Scotiabank Place for a late afternoon practice. Forward Tanner Glass was the only player absent from the skate. Dustin Jeffrey filled in his vacant spot alongside Brandon Sutter and Matt Cooke. The Bell Sensplex was packed with standing room only people who watched the Penguins practice. Very similar to a Southpointe practice. "It's unique to go on the road and have a crowd like that watching practice," defenseman Kris Letang said. "It's fun. Gave guys jump even on a long travel day." What to Watch For: Pens vs. Senators Saturday, / 2:50 PM / Features By Michelle Crechiolo After finishing 19 points out of a playoff spot two seasons ago, the Ottawa Senators took the top-seeded New York Rangers to seven games in the first round of the playoffs last year. And so far, the Senators have been busy proving that last year s success was no fluke and that they re a legitimate contender with their hot 3-1 start. Ottawa s biggest strength is in its ability to score goals. They finished with the league s fourthranked offense last season, led by their veteran core of Jason Spezza, Milan Michalek and Daniel Alfredsson along with Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson (more on him later). Dominating center Spezza led the Senators with 84 points (34G-50A) last season, while linemate Michalek scored 35 goals and 60 points. They re both big bodies that use their size to their advantage in the offensive zone and are dangerous together. Though beloved captain Alfredsson turned 40 on Dec. 11, he had 27 goals last season for the

17 Senators and currently has three assists in four games. And while Nick Foligno and his 47 points were traded to Columbus in the offseason, promising young forward Kyle Turris looks quite capable of making up for any lost offense as he is off to a fast start on a line with Alfredsson and newcomer Guillaume Latendresse. Turris leads the Senators with four goals in four games. While the Senators have a skilled group of forwards, one of their biggest offensive threats comes from the blue line. Karlsson scored a staggering 78 points in 81 games last season on his way to being named the NHL s best defenseman and loves using his speed to join the attack. The Senators locked the 22-year-old up in the offseason with a seven-year contract extension. However, the Senators struggled in many defensive categories last season including penalty kill and goals and shots allowed per game. To help address that, Ottawa acquired shutdown defenseman Marc Methot from Columbus to steady their blue line and he s been strong on the top pairing with Karlsson. Former Penguin Sergei Gonchar continues to play an integral role on the power play and has been paired with Chris Phillips. Goalie Craig Anderson is off to an incredible start with the Senators, posting gaudy numbers through his first few games. He started Ottawa s first three contests, backstopping his way to three wins, a 0.67 goals-against average and.976 save percentage. As backup Ben Bishop started Ottawa s last game, a 6-4 loss to Tampa Bay on Friday, expect to see Anderson in the cage on Sunday.. SENATORS: KYLE TURRIS It would be easy to choose a player like Jason Spezza for this section, as the veteran center has 41 points (16G-25A) in 32 career games against Pittsburgh. But early in the season, Kyle Turris performance has made him Ottawa s player to watch as he already has four goals and an assist in four games played. Turris, the third overall pick in the 2007 NHL Draft by Phoenix, joined the Senators via trade on Dec. 17, 2011 and scored 29 points in 49 games with his new team. He s had a long time to get adjusted in Ottawa and has gotten off to a fast start playing wing on a line with captain Daniel Alfredsson and big-bodied winger Guillaume Latendresse. Turris speed and scoring ability could pose a problem for Pittsburgh. PENGUINS: EVGENI MALKIN AND TYLER KENNEDY It was hard to choose between Malkin and Kennedy, so we ve made them both players to

18 watch for Pittsburgh on Sunday. Malkin had a number of incredible scoring chances against Winnipeg on Friday, but was ultimately stymied by a Herculean effort from Jets goalie Ondrej Pavelec. Look for Malkin to capitalize on his opportunities on Sunday in Ottawa. The Senators are one of those teams he historically does well against, with 15 goals and 25 points in 23 career games. Kennedy also performs well against Ottawa, with 10 goals and 15 points in 17 career contests. Their line with James Neal was strong on Friday, creating lots of offensive zone time and getting pucks to the net (they accounted for 16 of the Penguins' 35 shots). Kennedy teed off a few bombs from his off side. Look for more of that Sunday. The Penguins and Senators have matched up against each other as well as any two teams in the NHL over the past couple of years. Dating back to the season a span of 24 regular-season games the Senators have posted 13 wins in the series, versus 11 victories for the Penguins. During that span, the Penguins overall record is , while the Senators are The two teams have also met in three postseason series since 06-07, with the Penguins winning two of the three ( 08, 10), and the Senators once ( 07). Including the postseason, Pittsburgh has won a combined 20 games, versus 19 wins for Ottawa, since Despite Friday night s loss at Winnipeg, the Penguins remain one of the NHL s best road teams. Pittsburgh s loss on Friday night ended a four-game road winning streak that began with the final two road contests of last season, and included the first two road games of this campaign back-to-back opening-weekend victories against Philadelphia and the NY Rangers. In fact, since Jan. 13, 2012, the Penguins have posted a (.682 pct.) record over their last 22 road games. During that stretch they have outscored foes by a advantage, while killing off 60-of-68 opposition power plays (88.2%). Evgeni Malkin was held off the scoresheet on Friday night for the first time this season, ending his brief three-game point streak. Malkin also saw his 11-game regular-season point streak which dated back to last season (but was unofficial) come to a close. Before Friday, Malkin had notched 19 points (6G-13A) over his last 11 regular-season contests. Despite the zero on Friday, Malkin has points in 15 of his last 17 road games dating back to Feb. 4 of last season. The only other road game during that stretch that Malkin has been held off the scoresheet was an 8-4 loss at Ottawa on March 24 of last season. Malkin has 19 points (8G-11A) over his last 17 road games. Malkin has fared well against

19 the Senators of late, scoring at least one goal in eight of his last 10 games against them for a total of 13 points (10G-3A). Malkin also has four power-play goals during the stretch, which began on Nov. 19, Penguins captain Sidney Crosby enters Sunday s game looking to score goals in three consecutive games for the first time since he had a five-game goal-scoring streak from Dec , 2010 (6 goals total). Crosby notched his first multiple-goal game of the year with a pair of tallies on Friday against Winnipeg. His two goals marked his 50th career multiple-goal game. Crosby is looking to improve his point streak to four on Sunday. He currently has amassed five points (3G-2A) during his three-game point streak. Crosby enters Sunday s game with a five-game point streak against the Senators (3G-6A-9PTS). Those numbers include five points (1G-4A) in two games against Ottawa last season. In his last seven games against the Senators, Crosby has totaled 12 points on three goals and nine assists. Crosby has eight points (2G-6A) in 11 career regular-season contests at Scotiabank Place. PENGUINS: None SENATORS: D Jared Cowen (hip surgery, expected to miss the duration of the season) D Mike Lundin (finger surgery) Author: Michelle Crechiolo Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby attracts huge crowd for practice in Ottawa By Don Brennan,Ottawa Sun The parking lot was completely full, so vehicles were left all along Maple Grove Rd.

20 There was a kids tournament inside Bell Sensplex on this Saturday afternoon, but not everybody was there for that. Somehow, word had spread that the Pittsburgh Penguins were practising on one of the four sheets inside, as all around it folks stood, four deep in spots, and stretched their necks to watch. "I was coming out of the room to get some sticks and I saw the arena packed," defenceman Kris Letang said later. "It's typical from Canada, though. When you have guys like (Sidney) Crosby and (Evgeni) Malkin come into the rink, young kids will spend a few hours watching them." Young and old alike. At the end of their 50-minute session, the Penguins took part in the traditional shootout drill. One goal in particular generated a roar and cheers of approval. Quite the opposite to the reaction Crosby's two lamp-lighters received only a few hours earlier in Winnipeg, during a 4-2 loss to the Jets, and surely a stark contract to the reception he and his teammates will receive Sunday at Scotiabank Place when they take on the Senators. "Anytime you get cheers on the road, it's a good thing," said Crosby. "I'll take it. I won't expect it (Sunday), but it was nice (Saturday)." Crosby wasn't surprised by the turnout for a practice. "Not in Canada," he said. "I know how much everyone loves hockey here. Even in Pittsburgh. Look at our practices, they're full all the time. We don't take it for granted, but it's exciting. It's fun for everyone." The Penguins haven't enjoyed a great time at rinks lately. After starting the season with victories over the Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers, they've arrived in Ottawa on a two-game losing streak. Their other setback was on home ice, at the hands of the Toronto Maple Leafs. "We know we made some big mistakes the last couple of games, that hurt us, but we also did some good things too," said Crosby. "We've just got to minimize our mistakes and keep doing what we're doing offensively. "Defensively we've got to make sure we're a little bit tighter." The Penguins, a popular pick to win the Stanley Cup this summer, are intent on turning their fortunes around immediately. In the process, they plan on leaving the Senators with their own two-game losing streak that, during a shortened season, is more concerning than it would be if teams were playing the regular 82. "We have a talented hockey team. No one has ever questioned that," said winger Matt Cooke. "It's just a mindset thing. We have to be able to defend. We're going to get our goals, we're

21 going to get our chances. We've played well, better defensively than we have in the past. I think coming back, we felt we could make plays that we made at the end of last season. But we're all trying to shake off the rust a little bit. The sharpness maybe isn't there. So maybe our expectations are a little high." And in the losses, their intensity has been a little low. "You never want to admit to it, but there's obviously an emotion level that's there automatically when you're playing the Flyers or Rangers," said Cooke. "You get a team like Toronto or Winnipeg, we haven't had the rivalry like we do against those other teams. You get caught with your guard down a little bit. I think that's something that needs to change in our room. That's something we can control. It's a pretty easy fix. And that relies solely on the responsibility of players." Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, who will get the starting assignment against the Senators, called the back-to-back losses "a wakeup call." Letang sounds like he sees it that way, too. "Every two points are really important," he said. "I think we have to treat every game like if it's a game that gets you in the playoffs." "Everybody's got the same mindset. Everybody knows they have a chance to make the playoffs. It's not a secret. Everybody every night is going really hard. They're trying to give us a tough time." Meanwhile, Crosby is off to a decent start with five points in four outings, the same number he had in two meetings with the Senators in the campaign, when concussion issues limited him to just 22 games. Now, he feels as good as ever, so good, in fact, that he walked to the rink for the pre-game skate in Winnipeg because he "just wanted to get outside and experience a Canadian winter again", which prompted Fleury to say: "I guess we should all try it and see how it goes." It's unlikely they'll hoof it to Scotiabank Place Sunday, however, especially if they're staying at a downtown hotel. "As far as on the ice, I feel like there's still some improvement there," said Crosby. "But I don't think it's a lack of effort or anything like that. It's just timing, getting used to playing games. Health-wise, I feel really good. It's a lot of fun to be playing as much as we are and to be back competing." At rinks packed for both games and practices.

22 Ottawa Senators defenceman Sergei Gonchar and Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin share close friendship By Bruce Garrioch,Ottawa Sun OTTAWA - They make their NHL homes 882 km from each other and their birth certificates have 12 years between them, but nothing can separate the bond Sergei Gonchar and Evgeni Malkin have formed. After accepting the Hart Trophy as the league's MVP last spring in Las Vegas, the 26-year-old Pittsburgh Penguins superstar dedicated the award to the Senators' veteran defenceman in his acceptance speech. "He took care of me," Malkin said last June. "He's a great guy and an unbelievable player. He's my best friend here." As the Penguins arrive for a 5 p.m. matinee at Scotiabank Place against the Senators, you can be certain Malkin and Gonchar, 38, had dinner together Saturday in Ottawa because the two have the kind of friendship many would envy. It was no accident Gonchar and Malkin both played for former Carolina Hurricanes coach Paul Maurice with the KHL's Magnitogorsk Metallurg during the 119-day lockout. That's where the relationship first started during the lockout. After spending five years together and winning a Stanley Cup with the Penguins in 2009, Malkin and Gonchar weren't going to pass up on the chance to be teammates one more time. After all, they don't know if it's going to happen again. "We played together for five years (in Pittsburgh) and six years if you include the last lockout," Gonchar told the Sun. "When you have a friend on the team -- not only a great player -- you develop chemistry on the ice together. "We also got the chance to spend time together off the ice as well. When you're out there together, it's something special. You enjoy it. With me getting older and I know I'm not going to get that many opportunities. It was something special for me. I'm always going to remember that." You would think with the difference in age it would be a father/son bond that links the duo. It may have started out that way because it was Gonchar who taught Malkin to adjust to the lifestyle in North America as a rookie in Malkin moved in with Gonchar and his family in Pittsburgh. It wasn't a short-term visit, either, Malkin lived with Gonchar for three years and they roomed together on the road.

23 "When he got to Pittsburgh, I already knew (Malkin) and I knew what kind of person he is and I also knew what kind of player he is as well," said Gonchar. "I remembered myself what it was like when I got to the NHL (in Washington), not knowing anybody, not speaking English, the new lifestyle and even different hockey. I remember how tough it was for me. That's why I decided I was going to help (Malkin). It was easy for me. I never had second thoughts about it. He's a good housemate and a good friend." Gonchar said Malkin has turned out just as expected. "I knew playing with him in the first lockout what he was capable of doing," said Gonchar. "He was 17 years old and I knew the talent was there. What's nice is he hasn't changed. "He's still the same person. He's the same guy I knew 10 years ago with the same personality. He likes to have fun. People may not know that because of his English, but what he's done as a player doesn't surprise me." Gonchar couldn't thank Malkin enough for dedicating the Hart Trophy victory to him. It's a nice feather in the cap for Gonchar, who has had a brilliant career that is winding down. "It meant a lot," he said. "I was a bit surprised. We talked before he went there. I was at Disney World (in Florida). I just got back after driving for three hours and I didn't turn the TV on when I got home. "People started calling me and asking me what I thought. I didn't know what happened. I turned it on to check it out. It touched me. I didn't expect it. It surprised me and it was really nice of him to do that." Yes, Gonchar will be trying to shut down Malkin and the Penguins Sunday, but it won't affect their friendship. Everything breaks right for Zatkoff and Penuins STEPH ROGERS, For The Times Leader TORONTO --There s no better way to end than on a high note. Goalie Jeff Zatkoff knew his team didn t want to skid into a break from play on a losing streak. In front of a sellout crowd at Ricoh Coliseum, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins took down the Toronto Marlies 3-1 on Saturday in their final game before the American Hockey League s All-Star break.

24 It s nice any time you can win before you go on a break, particularly against Toronto. We have a lot of respect for the Marlies, Coach John Hynes said of his opponents, who were 13-2 entering play. It was a great atmosphere to play in, and we played one of our better games. Though Hynes team handed the Marlies a power play just nine seconds after the puck was dropped, he attributes big saves to Zatkoff for wearing down the home team s momentum. The Penguins netminder earned top honors in front of the Toronto audience, making 27 saves and improving the team s record to We were able to weather the storm, and then I thought from the last ten minutes of the first and through the second, we controlled the play, Zatkoff said. Riley Holzapfel opened the scoring at 11:21 of the second to give the Penguins a 1-0 lead. With Toronto s Nicolas Deschamps barely an obstacle to the home team s net, Holzapfel s wrist shot from Dylan Reese sailed cleanly over the shoulder of Mark Owuya for his 13th goal of the season. The first period was a forgettable tale of squandered opportunities. As the Toronto roster spent eight minutes in the penalty box, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton managed as many shots through the entire frame. Even a 5-on-3 power play chance for the Penguins gave little hope that they d break a pesky Marlies team down. To reverse the early misfortune, the Penguins emerged from the locker room and put Owuya and the Toronto defense to work. They outshot the Marlies 19-3, taking the lead into the third. It gives you energy because when you have a period like that, it really instills belief, Hynes said of the resurgent second. Being able to come out with a strong work ethic (in the third); they believe in that because they just did it. Minutes after Holzapfel s goal, center Zach Sill nearly mirrored his teammate s feat on a Toronto power play, the puck taking an unlucky turn off the goalpost. Traffic in front of the Penguins net allowed Toronto to even the score 1-1 on a 4-on-3 power play. A shot from the point by Tim Connolly at 7:03 of the third found an opening through the Penguins baracade, and straight through the knees of the guarded Zatkoff. It took less than a minute for the Penguins to respond. Paul Thompson s unassisted goal off the glove of Owuya was the definitive point in the game, as Wilkes-Barre/Scranton regained the lead 2-1. We did a lot of positive things tonight, said Rookie Adam Payerl, who led the team in shots with six. We ll think about those for a few days and try to build off that after the break.