Penguins vs. Philadelphia Flyers - 10/7/10 - Preview - Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Penguins
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WHEN: Oct 7, 2010 - 7:00 pm | WHERE: CONSOL Energy Center
WATCH: Versus | LISTEN: Pens HD Radio, 105.9 FM

Philadelphia Flyers
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Pittsburgh Penguins vs Philadelphia Flyers

Mike Richards
	F - #18 31 Goals 31 Assists 62 Points
• Scored a career-high 31 goals in 2009-10. • Top-notch defensive forward has tallied 20 career shorthanded goals through first five seasons. • Led the Flyers last season with a career-high 13 power-play tallies.

Jeff Carter
	F - #17 33 Goals 28Assists 61 Points
• Hulking forward is coming off of back-to-back 30-goal seasons. • Net-front presence has scored 40 career power-play goals, including three last season in five games against Pittsburgh. • Has surpassed 300 shots in each of the past two seasons.

Ville Leino
	F - #22 6 Goals 5 Assists 11 Points
• Finnish forward was the breakout performer of the 2010 playoffs, notching 21 points (7G-14A) in 19 postseason contests. • Recorded two assists in four games for Detroit against the Penguins in the 2009 Stanley Cup Final. • Enters the 2010-11 season with more postseason points (26 in 23 games) than regular-season points (20 in 68 games).

The Philadelphia Flyers enter the 2010-11 season as the defending Eastern Conference champions after a dramatic and historic postseason run. Philadelphia became just the third team in National Hockey League history to overcome a 3-0 series deficit last spring when they shocked the Boston Bruins by claiming four straight victories to secure an Eastern Conference semifinal series victory en route to a Stanley Cup Final appearance.

The Flyers return almost their entire roster from the team that lost 4-2 to Chicago in the Cup Final. One notable omission is two-time 40-goal scorer and longtime Flyer Simon Gagne, who was dealt to Tampa Bay over the summer for defenseman Matt Walker and a draft pick. Philadelphia hopes free agent signee Nikolay Zherdev, who returns to the NHL after a season in his native Russia, can make up for Gagne’s lost production.

While the usual suspects – Mike Richards, Jeff Carter, Scott Hartnell and Danny Briere – are around to supply the offense, goaltender Michael Leighton, who arguably saved Philadelphia’s season after being claimed off waivers last December, will miss the first couple of weeks of the season with a bulging disk in his back. Brian Boucher will take over the starting reins during his absence.

This will be the fifth time Pittsburgh has hosted the Philadelphia Flyers in a home opener. The Penguins are 2-0-2 all-time versus the Flyers in home openers.

Last season the Penguins posted a 5-1 mark against Philadelphia to improve their record against their fiercest rival to 20-8 over the past four seasons.

Including the postseason, Pittsburgh is 28-10 versus the Flyers since the beginning of the ’06-07 campaign. During that same stretch the Penguins have posted an 11-3 mark in Pittsburgh against the Flyers.

Sidney Crosby paced the Penguins last season with four goals and 10 points in six games against Philadelphia. For his career, Crosby has 24 goals and 56 points in 32 games versus the Flyers.

Marc-Andre Fleury posted a perfect 4-0 record against Philadelphia last season to improve his career numbers against the ‘Broad Street Bullies’ to 19-6 with a 2.67 goals-against average in 28 games.

Home Cookin’: Professional sports franchises get to open a new building about once every couple generations, so the debut of CONSOL Energy Center on Thursday night is sure to amp up the crowd an extra decibel level or two. Factor in the opponent and the Penguins should have no problem feeding off of the energy which is certain to be present throughout the contest.

Flower Power: Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury enters the 2010-11 season opener on top of his game following an outstanding preseason which saw the 25-year-old backstop post a perfect 3-0 record to accompany his 1.80 goals-against average and .936 save percentage. Those numbers have to scare the Flyers, whom Fleury has tortured throughout his career.

	C Jordan Staal, foot infection (indefinitely) F Arron Asham, upper body (day-to-day)

	D Chris Pronger, right knee (day-to-day) G Michael Leighton, bulging disk in back (indefinitely) F Ian Lapiererre, post-concussion syndrome (indefinitely)


G	Comrie (4)	Zherdev (5)
A	Letestu (5)	Giroux (5)
PTS	Malkin/Letestu/Goligoski (6)	Zherdev/Carter (6)
PIM	Orpik (22)	Carcillo (58)
+/-	Michalek (+5)	Coburn (+8)
PP	Five Tied (1)	Zherdev/van Riemsdyk (1)
SH	None	None
W/L	Fleury (3-0-0)	Bobrovsky (3-0-1)
GAA	Fleury (1.80)	Bobrovsky (1.76)
SVP	Fleury (.936)	Bobrovsky/Boucher (.939)
*Preseason team leaders

	Mark Letestu - Penguins center Mark Letestu came to training camp intent on earning a spot with the big club. Such a mindset allowed the 25-year-old Elk Point, Alberta native to tie for the team scoring lead with six points (1G-5A).

	Nikolay Zherdev - Signed to a one-year contract during the offseason, Zherdev starred for the Flyers during the preseason, leading the team in both goals (5) and points (6). A three-time 20-goal scorer at the NHL level, Zherdev returns to North America after spending last season in the Kontinental Hockey League.

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