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Sunday, December 17, 2000

By Dave Molinari, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

Penguins vs. Florida Panthers, 7:38 p.m. Wednesday, National Car Rental Center. TV, radio: Fox Sports Net Pittsburgh, WWSW-FM (94.5), WGBB-AM (970).

The Penguins' lineup had a decidedly different look for their game in Montreal last night, if only because G Garth Snow wasn't in it. Snow, who had started the previous 11 games and 14 of the past 15, received a two-game suspension yesterday for going after Panthers LW Peter Worrell during the Panthers' 4-1 victory at Mellon Arena Friday night. Snow left his crease and pursued Worrell in the neutral zone after Worrell began stalking Penguins RW Jaromir Jagr, who had hit him with an elbow behind the Florida goal line five or 10 seconds earlier. Snow, who punched Worrell in the face with his blocker, also must sit out the rematch Wednesday with the Panthers, but will be eligible to return when the Penguins visit Tampa Bay Thursday. With Snow removed from the mix, the Penguins recalled rookie G Sebastien Caron from their minor-league affiliate in Wilkes-Barre to back up Rich Parent. Caron, 20, had an 8-4-1 record and 3.01 goals-against average in 13 games with the Baby Penguins. In addition to Snow, the Penguins played without D Dan Trebil, LW Kip Miller, D Janne Laukkanen (knee), D Bob Boughner (wrist) and G Jean-Sebastien Aubin (knee) last night. The Canadiens scratched RW Jim Campbell, D Craig Rivet (shoulder), D Andrei Markov, LW Benoit Brunet (knee) and D Christian Laflamme (groin).

The Penguins' lack of toughness around their net has been an obvious problem lately -- opponents routinely stake out a spot near the crease and hover there without being hit -- and it's become a topic of conversation. "We don't play tough enough," D Darius Kasparaitis said. "We have to play tough to succeed in this league. We have to pay the price to win hockey games." One guy with a history of doing that is Boughner. He has been out for more than a month because of a broken wrist, but Boughner's value -- he'll be an unrestricted free agent after this season -- has been underscored by the Penguins' play since he was injured. The good news for the Penguins is that his rehabilitation seems to be going well, and that he should be back in the lineup early next month. "It's been very boring, it's been very monotonous, but I've been working hard," Boughner said. "And the wrist feels great."

When Mario Lemieux announced his intention to resume his playing career, he said that giving his four children -- particularly his son, Austin -- a chance to watch him play was a significant factor in his decision. He made only a fleeting reference to his wife, Nathalie, at the time, but said a few days ago that shouldn't be construed as an indication that she opposed his comeback. "She's very supportive," Lemieux said. "She loves the game of hockey. Whatever I decided, she was 100 percent behind it. There were no objections whatsoever. She said, 'If that's what you want to do, go for it. It will be good for all of us, especially the kids.' "

The Montreal Gazette reported that former Penguins C Peter Mahovlich, a popular member of the Canadiens' championships teams in the mid- and late 1970s, has experienced a recurrence of the prostate cancer he was treated for three years ago. Mahovlich, a scout for the Atlanta Thrashers, is scheduled to receive a regimen of 36 radiation treatments.

The Penguins will have a day off -- richly deserved or otherwise -- today because of their annual Christmas party. They will resume practicing tomorrow at Southpointe, and will add Lemieux to their workout mix for the first time Tuesday. He then will accompany them on a road trip to Florida and Tampa Bay.

WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON (15-8-4) did not play. LW Greg Crozier has a five-game points streak, including three goals, four assists. He is third in the AHL with eight power-play goals.

WHEELING (9-13-4) beat Johnstown, 2-1, before 2,309 at the Wheeling Civic Center. C Boris Protsenko scored both of the Nailers' goals, giving him four on the season. G Joel Laing stopped 25 of 26 shots.