Rangers Pregame: Scouting the Pens

Taking a look at tonight's opponent, the Pittsburgh Penguins: 

Pittsburgh Penguins

Head Coach: Dan Bylsma

2008-09 Record: 45-28-9 (99 pts)

Finished: 4th overall Eastern Conference (Won Stanley Cup)

Last Season vs. Rangers: Series tied 3-3

Ex-Rangers on the Penguins: Pascal Dupuis, Tony Granato, assistant coach, Kevin Stevens, professional scout, Phil Bourque, broadcaster, Bob Errey, broadcaster. (courtesy of post-gazette)

Stars:

Sidney Crosby

#87 / Center / Pittsburgh Penguins

Height: 5-11

Weight: 200

Born: Aug 07, 1987

Evgeni Malkin

#71 / Center / Pittsburgh Penguins

Height: 6-3

Weight: 195

Born: Jul 31, 1986

Who's In: Jay McKee (STL), Alex Goligoski (WBS farm team),  John Curry (re-signed), Bill Guerin (re-signed), Ruslan Fedotenko (re-signed), Mike Rupp (FA), Brent Johnson (FA),

Who's Out: Hal Gill (MTL), Rob Scuderi (LA), Mathieu Garon (CLB), Petr Sykora (MIN), Miroslav Satan (unsigned), Philippe Boucher (retired),

2009-10 Pittsburgh Penguins Season Preview from Pensburgh, the SBnation community for the Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins notes: (courtesy of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

• Evgeni Malkin has a new right winger. Pascal Dupuis has been shifted to the right side with Malkin and Ruslan Fedotenko while Tyler Kennedy, who worked there most of the preseason, is returning to his old spot with Jordan Staal and Matt Cooke. Coach Dan Bylsma said he expects to use those combinations when the Penguins face the New York Rangers in the season-opener tomorrow at Mellon Arena.
• Sidney Crosby is confident he will be in uniform for the opener. He tested his sore groin aggressively in the 75-minute practice at Southpointe yesterday and said he was pleased with the results.
• The Rangers will be making their fifth and final appearance as a home-opening opponent at Mellon Arena. That is the most for any one opposing team.
• The Penguins have $1.6 million in salary cap space, and they plan to keep at least $1 million free for possible moves at the trade deadline. They are working on securing extensions for Ds Sergei Gonchar and Kris Letang, both of whom are in the final years of their current deals. The unknown that is the 2010-11 cap is affecting those negotiations.