Our Latest Posts

14 October 2008

Sykora To Play!

The Pens offense gets a boost tonight when Peter Sykora makes his season debut. Makes me wonder where they are going to put energetic Tyler Kennedy.


Penguins Report: Tuesday, October 14
Sam Kasan Pittsburgh Penguins


> Right winger Petr Sykora will make his season debut Tuesday night against the Philadelphia Flyers.

“He’s going to play,” said head coach Michel Therrien following the morning skate. “He feels comfortable to play. That’s his call. We’re more than happy to have him back in the lineup”

Sykora will skate on a line with Evgeni Malkin and Jordan Staal. The tandem worked all training camp together until an illness and groin injury sidelined Sykora for nearly two weeks.

“It’s always been a good chemistry with Malkin,” Therrien said. “Hopefully, we’ll find them clicking right away.”

Sykora's presence could inject some scoring power for a team that hasn’t scored an even-strength goal in two games.

“(Sykora) seems to find that goal-scoring touch at the right time,” Staal said. “Hopefully, he can come through for us (Tuesday).”


> The Penguins have shuffled all of their lines for Tuesday's match-up with Philadelphia. Sidney Crosby has been reunited with Pascal Dupuis. It should be a smooth transition since the two played a majority of last season together following his acquisition from the Atlanta Thrashers.

“I know what (Crosby’s) going to do,” Dupuis said. “I played with him in preseason. The only game I didn’t play with him was in Europe. I’ll play my game, do my role. That’s what they want me to do.”

Dupuis started training camp on Crosby’s line along with Miroslav Satan, but was replaced by Ruslan Fedotenko. Dupuis was re-paired with Crosby late in New Jersey’s 2-1 overtime win on Saturday.

Sykora’s return will push Tyler Kennedy to the third line, with Fedotenko and Max Talbot.

“Obviously, TK’s (Tyler Kennedy) turbo is ready to go,” Talbot said. “He had a great start of the year. He’s been battling really hard. He worked out hard this summer. I’m pretty excited he’s a part of the line (Tuesday).”


> He said it: Michel Therrien on the passing of New York Rangers’ Alexei Cherepanov.

“I’m thinking more about the family more than anything. Those young athletes, their family is proud of their son. They wish them the best. They put a lot of sacrifice as parents, as brother and sister. Your first thought is the family.

“The hockey side is way behind as far as I’m concerned. It's sad news for everyone involved. It’s sad for our game too, losing a young man. We heard a lot of good things. He was supposed to be a great player. It’s just a sad day.”

1 comment:

  1. I was at the game. Sykora was good, Dupuis was awesome!

    Word. Go Pens!

    ReplyDelete