Penguins/NHL
Toronto Maple Leafs (1-1-1, 2 pts) @ Pittsburgh Penguins (2-0-0, 4 pts)
PIT Previous Game: Pittsburgh 6 – New York 3: Evgeni Malkin had 3 assists and James Neal scored 2 goals leading the Penguins to a 6-3 win over the New York Rangers. Tomas Vokoun made 31 saves, notching his first win as a Penguin.
TOR Previous Game: Buffalo 2 – Toronto 1: Ryan Miller made 34 saves on shots as the Buffalo Sabres held on for a 2-1 win at the Air Canada Center. Toronto went 1 for 7 on the power play in the loss.
HOME OPENER NOTES
*The Penguins open tonight’s game with a 23-12-9 all-time record in home openers
*Today marks the fifth time that the Penguins have played the Maples Leafs in their home opener, going 1-2-1 in their previous four instances.
*The Penguins have averaged 3.54 goals per game against the Maple Leafs in 28 meetings dating back to the 2005-2006 season.
*Sidney Crosby has 9 goals and 12 assists in 12 career home games against the Maple Leafs.
*The Penguins have scored three goals or more in 13 consecutives regular season games dating back to last season.
*Since start of 2011-2012 season, James Neal’s 43 goals lead all wingers
MORNING SKATE BUZZ
It’s status quo for the Penguins on their top-4 lines and D-pairs.
Chris Kunitz – Sidney Crosby – Pascal Dupuis
Eric Tangradi – Evgeni Malkin – James Neal
Matt Cooke – Brandon Sutter – Tyler Kennedy
Tanner Glass – Joe Vitale – Craig Adams
DEFENSEMEN
Niskanen – Letang
Orpik – Martin
Despres – Engelland
*Dustin Jeffrey, Robert Bortuzzo and Ben Lovejoy will likely be healthy scratches*
