Tuesday, November 11, 2003

By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Penguins vs. Rangers, 7:08 p.m. tomorrow, Madison Square Garden, New York. TV, radio: Fox Sports Net; WWSW-FM (94.5), WBGG-AM (970).

The Penguins' two-hour practice yesterday at Southpointe opened with a new first line of C Mario Lemieux between LW Ryan Malone and RW Aleksey Morozov, but Lemieux's early departure because of his hip flexor put C Brian Holzinger in his place. The rest of the lines had C Rico Fata between LW Martin Straka and RW Konstantin Koltsov, C Milan Kraft between LW Ramzi Abid and RW Matt Bradley, and C Mike Eastwood between LW Kelly Buchberger and RW Steve Webb. Steve McKenna practiced on defense, but that was only for the purpose of conducting drills.

Although coach Eddie Olczyk broached in public last week the possibility that underperforming players could be replaced by one or more promotions from the Penguins' AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, it does not appear any moves will be made before the game tomorrow in New York. Although Olczyk hedged yesterday when asked about a possible change in personnel -- "That's a good question," he said -- he quickly offered a vote of confidence for his current roster: "We've been a team that's bounced back, and I'm expecting us to do the same thing in New York." The organization is pleased with the recent play of Kraft and plans to keep him in the lineup, but it is far less than satisfied with Holzinger and Abid. Holzinger, known throughout his career as an offensive player, has no goals, two assists and nine shots in 11 games. Abid, who had 10 goals in 30 NHL games with the Coyotes last season, has one goal and no assists in nine games. Several forwards have fared well for Wilkes-Barre in the early going, and those with the best chance of a recall include RW Tom Kostopoulos, LW Tomas Surovy, LW Matt Murley and C Shane Endicott. But, with the roster at 22, one below the NHL limit, promotions from the AHL likely would require sending players through waivers to demote them. In the case of a player such as Abid, the organization would risk giving up a promising prospect at age 23.

Although G Marc-Andre Fleury started five consecutive games before Sebastien Caron got one Saturday, Olczyk declined yesterday to name his starter for the game tomorrow. He likely will do so today.

Caron had a slight hamstring pull in the second period Saturday, but he made it through the full practice with no apparent difficulty and pronounced himself ready to play. He also made no excuses for allowing eight goals on 37 shots in the 9-0 loss. "It's a combination of all kinds of things that happened, but I can blame only myself," he said. "I don't want to give the reason that I didn't play for two weeks for why I didn't play well. Whether it's two weeks or a month or whatever, I want to get in there and give the team a chance to win."

Fleury has shown more emotion on the ice in recent games, and not all of it positive. He frequently has slammed his stick to the ice after allowing goals, especially those he views as being dubious. But he insisted yesterday that his behavior should not be interpreted as a sign of mounting frustration. "In the beginning, I was maybe a little bit shy. But I'm like that, and you see that now," he said. "I get mad. Usually, you will see me hit my stick or something like that. But it doesn't knock me off my game. I forget about it right after it happens. I'm just mad for a moment." Fleury's predecessor, Johan Hedberg, once sought treatment from a hypnotist to keep him from losing his cool after allowing goals.

In an attempt to generate more offense, Olczyk has given his defensemen more leeway in the past two weeks to pinch in the attacking zone to keep in loose pucks. At times, such as the Penguins' strong showing in the second period of the 6-3 loss Friday to the Panthers, it has worked. At other times, such as D Drake Berehowsky's decision to pinch late in the first period Saturday, it has resulted in an odd-man break and a goal against. Olczyk said yesterday he is not discouraged about the tactic but added that forwards must adjust. "It's a fine line, but it comes down to the individual knowing who's on the ice and when to jump in and when not to," he said. "We caused a lot of havoc in Florida by jumping in, and we like that. But forwards have to understand that, if there's a D-man jumping in, somebody had better be getting back and be supporting that guy."

Olczyk, on the Penguins' recent struggles: "There are going to be some times when the wheels come off the car. They came off, and now it's up to all of us to put the tires on together, get the wrench out, put the bolts on and get back to where we need to be."

Yesterday's results:

WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON (7-5-1) did not play.

WHEELING (7-2-1) did not play.

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