The Rico Fata-Mario Lemieux-Mikael Samuelsson line won't be the hottest one at Mellon Arena when the Penguins face Colorado tonight.
With Alex Tanguay, Peter Forsberg and Milan Hejduk wearing Avalanche sweaters, there's a good chance it won't be the best, either.
And it's downright unthinkable that, if Lemieux steals a quick glance over his shoulder, he'll flash back to the days when he was flanked by Jaromir Jagr and Ron Francis, or had Kevin Stevens and Rick Tocchet on his wings.
Nonetheless, the Fata-Lemieux-Samuelsson line shows signs of evolving into an effective group: Its members have put up four goals and five assists in the Penguins' past two games, both victories.
And while the Avalanche's top unit might snicker at such numbers -- Forsberg has three goals, 10 assists the past six games, while Hejduk has seven goals and three assists and Tanguay four goals and nine assists in the same span -- Lemieux and his wingers have come together quickly for guys who were on different teams 10 days ago.
"Our line's starting to get used to each other," Lemieux said.
And playing well enough that, when Martin Straka returns from a strained hamstring -- which figures to happen Saturday -- there's no assurance Fata will be moved off Lemieux's left side to open a spot for Straka.
"When Marty's ready, we'll get him in there, no doubt," Coach Rick Kehoe said yesterday. "But I don't know where."
Lemieux's wingers were acquired from the New York Rangers in the deal that sent Alexei Kovalev to Manhattan. At the time, no one suggested Samuelsson and Fata were logical linemates for Lemieux, but they certainly don't look out of place with him.
"All three of us can play, I guess," Samuelsson said. "We knew one could play."
The Penguins are starting to find out that Samuelsson can score a bit, too. He had just eight goals with the Rangers this season and was best known for his solid two-way play. But he has a goal in each of the past two games and is willing to work for his chances.
"He drives to the net," Kehoe said. "And if you drive to the net, you're going to get a lot of opportunities."
That's particularly true with a linemate such as Lemieux. In the Penguins' 4-3 overtime victory Tuesday against Edmonton, Samuelsson scored by charging toward the net and having his stick on the ice, then steering a Lemieux feed past Oilers goalie Tommy Salo.
"He'll find your stick," Samuelsson said. "Just be ready for it."
Fata agreed that "you always have to have your stick on the ice" when working with a playmaker of Lemieux's pedigree, but he still must fine-tune his game to take full advantage of Lemieux's talents.
For while speed is Fata's greatest asset, he still is learning to harness it. Learning that speed is most effective when it is varied, when a skater gets an opponent off-balance by shifting gears, and that north-south isn't always the best way to go.
"You have to change direction," Lemieux said. "That's something I don't think he's learned yet. I'll talk to him. With all the speed he has, he can slow down a little bit, change speed and beat defensemen that way."
It's not that the Penguins envision Fata as another Pavel Bure; they just don't want him to become a modern-day Jim McGeough. He's the onetime Penguins winger who got from Point A to Point B faster than almost anyone in the game and who, in the process, accomplished less than anyone else on the ice.
"I think that will come with time, a little bit, and understanding the game a little more," Fata said.
While Fata's speed can be a tremendous asset for Lemieux -- Fata can lug the puck up the ice, give it to Lemieux, then get free for a return pass -- it will be of limited value unless Fata develops a scoring touch. His feet have created plenty of chances in his four games with the Penguins; so far, his hands have prevented him from exploiting them.
"He's just got to learn to tap them in a little bit better," Lemieux said. "He's going to get his confidence once he gets a few goals and starts relaxing a little bit. He seems a little bit uptight. He's got to relax and just play the game."
And, along with Samuelsson, continue to at least meet the minimum standards Lemieux has set.
"All I'm asking is for them to go to the net and to move the puck quickly," he said. "[Screen] a guy once in a while to give me some room."
After a few games to adjust, Samuelsson and Fata seem to be getting a feel for working with Lemieux. No one regards their line as one of hockey's best, but it appears to have genuine potential -- though it's worth noting there is no firm link between promise and production.
"It's working OK," Samuelsson said. "I think we can still get better."
Dave Molinari can be reached at 412-263-1144.
Lemieux's linemates are off to quick start 
E-mail this story 
