Peter Diana, Post-Gazette The Senators' Brian McGrattan and the Penguins' Eric Cairns fight in the first period last night at Mellon Arena. Click photo for larger image.

Carolina winger Erik Cole has been reluctant to discuss his first contest against the Penguins with defenseman Brooks Orpik in the lineup since a March 4 hit by Orpik resulted in a broken neck for Cole and a suspension for Orpik.

Asked if there were any lingering feelings among the Hurricanes, who play host to the Penguins tonight, Cole told the Raleigh News & Observer, "I can't speak for the other guys in the room, and it's not a sentiment we've addressed."

Cole's coach, Peter Laviolette, though, was blunt, saying he hopes his team will "remain disciplined."

"No, I'm not sending my team out to fight Brooks Orpik," Laviolette told the News & Observer. "I hope we go out and play a real physical game, and I hope that we're tough on him and tough on the rest of the Penguins physically.

"I hope we win the hockey game and continue to climb out of the hole that we were in at the beginning of the season. And ... I hope Erik Cole is the best player on the ice."

Orpik was suspended for three games after the hit, which sent Cole into the boards at Mellon Arena, and Cole did not return until Game 6 of the Stanley Cup final.

Cole has recovered and scored his fourth career hat trick Thursday in Carolina's 5-0 win against Washington. He is one assist shy of 100 for his career.

Orpik was out with a hand injury for the Penguins' 5-1 loss to the Hurricanes last month.

What day off?

After a week in California for three games, an overtime loss at home to Tampa Bay Wednesday, and back-to-back games last night at home against Ottawa and tonight at Carolina, Penguins coach Michel Therrien gave the Penguins a previously unscheduled day off Thursday.

Except that most of the team didn't listen.

"I gave those guys the day off, but three-quarters of the players came to the rink," Therrien said, laughing. "It's a good thing. They like to be around each other. They like to be here.

"They're a young team, and some guys went on the ice just to have fun. They enjoy what they're doing."

A Russian visitor ... maybe

Penguins officials said they were aware of Russian newspaper reports that Gennady Velichkin, general director of Metallurg Magnitogorsk, planned to be in Pittsburgh yesterday, but said he had had no contact with the team and was welcome to buy a ticket to attend the game last night.

Magnitogorsk has filed a lawsuit against the NHL and the Penguins over the Penguins' signing of rookie Evgeni Malkin, who formerly played for the Russian Super League team. The first hearing in the case is scheduled Wednesday in New York.

Slap shots

Forwards Sidney Crosby and Malkin and goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury are the three Penguins among the 100 players on the NHL All-Star Game ballot. All three are on the ballot for the first time. ... The Penguins assigned right winger Ronald Petrovicky to Wilkes-Barre of the American Hockey League for a conditioning assignment. He has not played this season after having preseason hip surgery. ... Therrien declined to say whether Fleury or Jocelyn Thibault will start in goal tonight. ... AM radio station CKGL (570) in the Waterloo-Kitchener area of Ontario has an agreement to air eight to 10 Penguins games. Waterloo billionaire Jim Balsillie has signed a purchase agreement with the Penguins, sparking interest in the team there.