Fish: I know he is out for tonight, but what is the latest word on Crosby's injury status?

Shelly Anderson: It's about the same as it has been for weeks. Sidney Crosby is skating with the team and essentially is day-to-day, awaiting the time he feels like his right ankle is strong and pain-free. He said this morning he won't play tonight, and he said Saturday he is close. It's possible he's pretty much ready to go but doesn't want to jump in on back-to-back nights and so will consider playing tomorrow at New Jersey. Or perhaps he's still got some twinges he hopes will go away. He also said more than a week ago that if the Penguins were in the playoffs, he would be playing. So at the very least, he should be back on the ice for the postseason.

AceWilde: When Rob Scuderi returns to the lineup, who will be the odd man out?

Shelly Anderson: No one, yet. Rob Scuderi returns tonight after being sidelined with a badly broken finger that required surgery to insert a pin (one that stuck out of the top of the finger) and another procedure to remove the pin. He will be one of seven defensemen dressed for the game against the Islanders. Whether that's because winger Pascal Dupuis is out because his wife is giving birth or because coach Michel Therrien specifically wants all seven healthy defensemen in the lineup is up for debate.

Fish: It seems like Brooks Orpik has been getting more ice time recently. Is this a matter of needing a defenseman with some grit or is he finally working his way out of the doghouse?

Shelly Anderson: Brooks Orpik got a vote of confidence from Michel Therrien, who placed Orpik alongside Sergei Gonchar when Scuderi got hurt. (Remember, Scuderi replaced Mark Eaton when he got hurt.) Anyone who is paired with Gonchar is going to get decent ice time, even if they aren't on the power play like ironman Gonchar. Orpik has responded by playing well, including nine hits the game before last.

Justin: Coach T constantly says go with the hot hand when it comes to deciding which goaltender to start...yet tonight he is starting Conklin. Is this to rest fleury for a playoff run? Or because Ty played so well against the Islanders last time? Or is he not totally sold on Fleury winning the job?

Shelly Anderson: It's difficult to imagine that coach Michel Therrien is not sold on Marc-Andre Fleury after the way Fleury has played since he came back from his ankle injury. The guess about Ty Conklin starting tonight is that the Penguins are in the middle of a three-games-in-four-nights stretch, plus the notion that Conklin needs to get in at least some work in case he's needed in the playoffs.

BadLieutenant: Hi Shelly. Does Alexander Ovechkin need to lead his team to the playoffs to earn MVP honors? Where does Malkin fall in there?

Shelly Anderson: It wouldn't hurt Alex Ovechkin's chances for the Hart Trophy, given to the NHL's MVP, if he can push Washington into the playoffs, but there is no such specific criterion. The award goes to the player judged to be the most valuable to his team. Imagine where the Capitals would be without him. Then imagine where the Penguins would be without Evgeni Malkin, especially the way he has played while Sidney Crosby has been hurt. There are also cases being made for New Jersey goaltender Martin Brodeur (though the Penguins chipped away at his candidacy Saturday night) and Calgary's Jarome Iginla.

Justin: The statistics continue to baffle everyone. The Pens are a better offense this year WITHOUT Sidney playing. How does one justify this? Are the players relaxing too much when Crosby is playing?

Shelly Anderson: Everyone might be overthinking this. It's natural that the players would dig deep upon finding out a player with Sidney Crosby's talent was going to be out an extended time. It's possible many -- Evgeni Malkin being at the top of the list -- found a hidden extra gear that they can call up on whether Crosby is in the lineup or not. If you think back to the game in Washington when Crosby was playing for the third time in his original comeback from the high ankle sprain, the Penguins offense was flying.

Justin: Do you see the Pens signing Orpik after the season or letting their best hitting defenseman leave?

Shelly Anderson: It certainly seemed for much of the season that defenseman Brooks Orpik was headed elsewhere after this season, either because the coaches weren't fans of his or because he might want to go to a team where he was appreciated more. It's hard to say whether his strong play lately while paired with Sergei Gonchar might have altered that.

Justin: Who would you like to see on the left side of a Hossa/Crosby line? My vote is for Dupuis.

Shelly Anderson: That would make you and me for Dupuis. (sorry, couldn't resist). Pascal Dupuis came with Marian Hossa from Atlanta at the trade deadline. Not only does that make Dupuis familiar with Hossa, but he also has had perhaps the best stretch offensively of his career. If not Dupuis, then perhaps feisty, energetic Max Talbot will get a shot.

BadLieutenant: On a scale from 1-10 with 10 being most important, where do rate the importance of Gary Roberts return for the Pens in time for the playoffs?

Shelly Anderson: If Gary Roberts were fully healthy and able to play in several games before the playoffs, that number might be eight or nine. But considering he has missed several weeks with a broken leg and high ankle sprain and figures to be rusty, that might drop to a six. It might be moot, though. Roberts for a long time was eyeing Thursday's game to possibly return, but he had a setback last week.

Justin: Staal, Orpik, Fleury, Malkin, Hossa. You can only sign 3. What are your choices?

Shelly Anderson: Of those five, forwards Evgeni Malkin and Jordan Staal and goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury seem to be the most valuable right now. Winger Marian Hossa is a needed sniper, but there's no guarantee he wants to re-sign with the Penguins this summer, and he hasn't had even one game yet to show that he is, as anticipated, the answer for Sidney Crosby's right side. Defenseman Brooks Orpik brings physical play and would be an asset for the future, but, as mentioned earlier, might end up elsewhere.