Post-Morning Skate: Bylsma says Canucks are a measuring stick for his team

*–The Pittsburgh Penguins are often a measuring stick for the opposition but tonight the Vancouver Canucks will be a measuring stick for a Penguins team that is still hanging around .500.

“Absolutely”, head coach Dan Bylsma said calling the Canucks a top “Stanley Cup contender”.

*–Dan Bylsma said this morning there isn’t a combination in the league that resembles how well the Sedin twins work together.

With the last change, look for Sidney Crosby to get the primary matchup against the Sedin’s. Bylsma said part of it will depend on how Crosby fares in the face-off circle but later said Crosby and the Sedin’s will see each other “quite a bit” head-to-head.

*– It will be Marc Andre Fleury vs Roberto Luongo tonight.

*– Sidney Crosby has talked this week about being very comfortable with line mates Chris Kunitz and Pascal Dupuis, stating that the two are playing the type of hockey that makes their line successful.

Bylsma said what both players bring, most notably Chris Kunitz is creating consistent offense off of the forecheck

*– Bylsma said this morning that playing an actual 60 minute game is not possible but turnovers are inevitable in a game but he’s been pleased with how his team has dictated the play of late.

*– When evaluating wingers on Sidney Crosby’s or Evgeni Malkin’s line, Bylsma said he doesn’t look at one or two particular stats.

*– The emergence of Chris Conner has pushed Mike Comrie down the depth and out of the top-12.

Conner is expected to get an extended look for the next handful of games with Mark Letestu and Tyler Kennedy on the third line. The line has the potential to be a speed energy line and Dan Bylsma called the Conner – Letestu – Kennedy unit a “scare factor” for others teams on the ice.

Chris Conner talked this morning about what he needs to do to stay in Pittsburgh.

“Just want to keep playing my game, using my speed, bringing energy to the team and doing whatever I can to get points, ” Conner said.

Conner on playing with Letestu and Kennedy tonight.

“I think we all got speed, ” Conner said. “I played with Mark a little bit in Wilkes Barre and it should be good.”

One thing a lot of players who come up from Wilkes Barre tell me is how playing the same system with both teams makes it an easy transition with the big club.

“Definetely, ” Conner said. “You don’t have to adjust to anything system wise and were doing the same things down there, which really helps.”